Hussaina and Dr Agha Ali Raza talked about the progression of Urdu language in the modern word of emerging tech. Irfan Khoosat, Naveed Shehzad, Sameena Peerzada and Samia Mumtaz brought to light the journey of theatre, television and film in the country and how it shaped the sociology of the country and its mood over the years.
The book launch of the renowned Indian author Pran Nevile’s ‘A Sentimental Journey’ was one of the sessions with the 95 years old author, author of ‘The Footprints of Partition: Narratives of Four Generations of Pakistanis and Indians’, Anum Zakaria, and well-known educationist and historian Dr Tahir Kamran as the panelists. Nevile talked about the identity of the city of Lahore where he grew up and titled it ‘The city that defines description’.'
In a session titled after his book ‘The Anti-Hero’, Nadeem Fareed Paracha talked about the struggle between the alt-right and progressive forces from the inception of Pakistan to date.
In the session titled Iqbal and Faiz, Adeel Hashmi and Yousaf Salahuddin reminisced about their grandfathers and how they are weighed down by the legacy. Celebrated author and historian Salman Rashid, in a session titled ‘Ye Jo Mera Des Hai’, talked about the journey of Alexander the Conqueror through what is now Pakistan and how the entire history of that period has been mythologised. Arshad Mahmood, Nadeem Farooq Paracha and lead vocalist of 'Badnam Band' Ahmed Jillani discussed the journey of Pakistani pop music and how it had proved to be most resilient despite fading government interest, oppressionist narratives and social taboos associated with music in general and this genre in particular. In an absolutely captivating session, music, life and poetry of Faiz was banqueted by Adeel Hashmi to the tune of serenading piano played by Asad Anees.
In another session, Suraiya talked about the decay in Pakistani music. Her daughter also sang some Ghazals with her.