Literature festival opens

Islamabad

Federal capital witnesses another star-studded galaxy of literary figures here at Lok Virsa on Friday at the inauguration of three-day fourth Islamabad Literature Festival featuring hundreds of interactive sessions, activities and performances along with exhibitions, book fair and food courts.

Islamabad literature festival is being organized by Oxford University Press while this year it’s being sponsored by Embassy of France, USAID-funded Pakistan Reading Project, Stylo, AWAAZ, Getz Pharma, Tapal, The World Bank Group, ICAS, British High Commission, Cinepax, and ArtNow, Lok Virsa premises, and Careem.

The inaugural session was held on Friday at Lok Virsa Auditorium in which British High Commissioner Thomas Drew, French Ambassador Martine Dorance, former  foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Lok Virsa Executive Director Dr Fauzia Saeed and OUP MD Ameena Saiyid along with renown journalist Ahmed Rashid and Masood Ashar were the key note speakers.

While inaugurating the 4th ILF formally, Oxford University Press MD Ameena Saiyid said that Islamabad Literature Festival gives us an opportunity to learn about and come across new authors and books, discover new ideas, and respond to them if we so choose.

Former Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said that such festivals are the need of hour and we have to understand their value for democratic society. Literature, art and culture speeds inspiration it speeds hope and it analyzes and reflect the rights and the wrong.

After the inaugural session on the first day ILF sessions include Ruk ja Hujoom-e-Gul, a conversation with Zehra Nigah and a Potohari Mushaira moderated by Alle Imran while renowned potohari poets including Javed Ahmad, Azaram Khiyam, Saqib Imam Rizvi, Jahangir Imran, Shiraz Tahir, Sahkoor Ahsan, Turab Naqvi and Farid Zahid presented their exciting poetry.

A session named Shaam Laatt was also held to pay tribute to Nasreen Anjum Bhatti in which Fahmida Riaz and Ahmad Salim discussed her contribution in Punjabi literature with the Moderator Sarwat Mohiuddin. On its first day a Tribute to Ismat Chughtai and Quratulain Hyder was also made in a session Lady Changez Khan and pom pom Darling by Zambeel Dramatic Readings. In this session Asma Mundrawala, Mahvash Faruqi, Danish Faruqi and Fawad Khan participated. English Potery was also discussed in a session Springtime Voices, in which Harris Khalique, Azka Khan, Waqas Naeem, Risham Amjad, Mina Malik-Hussain, and Mehvash Amin participated while moderated by Lona Yusuf. Former foreign secretary Riaz Ahmed Kohkhar and renowned journalist Ahmed Rashid discussed Jihad and Descent into Chaos in a conversation. On the first day well known artist Rashid Rana took part in a conversation with ArtNow Editor Quddus Mirza and shared his views about his work including the upcoming survey show at Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, New Delhi and his role as the appointed Artistic Director of the first Lahore Biennale. Three-day literature celebrations will continue today and tomorrow as well while a number of interactive session, performances and activities are planned including- A tribute to Fatima Surayya Bajia;  A Tribute to Intizar Husain; Women's Protection Bill; The State of Urdu Literature in Pakistani School and College Syllabi.