Read and eat

When it comes to spaces of interest, Pakistan seems to only create space for one particular type of person: foodies. While there are numerous cafes, restaurants, and food chains throughout the country, we are short on libraries, books, and communities of readers. It’s a shame to see our literary scene on the verge of collapse.

Just recently, a small community in Karachi organized a literature festival called Adab Festival. As a student, it was a struggle to convince people to go because of how ‘boring’ literature festivals can get. But when it comes to food festivals, hundreds would be willing to join.

As a reader, it is painful to be witness to this death of literature. We forget that our mind needs to be fed too. It needs to be told and taught things beyond the notions of money and movies. We ought to establish book cafes and other spaces where people can both share stories and food, helping revive our literary scene.

Eeman Asad

Karachi