Third Mother Languages Literature Festival to be held in February next

Islamabad: After the two successful editions of Pakistan Mother Languages Literature (MLLF) Festival, the third one will be held on February 17 and 18, 2018 at Lok Virsa. This was announced by the organisers of the festival on Sunday.

Speaking at the appreciation ceremony for the volunteers of the second MLLF, chairperson of the lead organiser Indus Cultural Forum, Niaz Nadeem said that the festival will continue to coincide with international mother languages day which is celebrated on February 21 every year.

“There is a debate going on about the importance of literature festivals in Pakistan. Through MLLF we are trying to make the literature relevant to the masses because we are featuring the languages which majority of Pakistani write and speak” he added. He thanked Lok Virsa, Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO), the Culture Department of Sindh Government and Foundation Open Society Institute for their generous support to the event.

Speaking on the occasion, Executive Director of Lok Virsa Dr. Fozia Saeed said that it is right time that the parents take responsibility to teach their children their mother languages. “The MLLF is demonstration of how responsible citizens can volunteer to promote and protect their languages and culture in addition to doing their jobs” she said while congratulating the organisers.

Executive Director of Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) Naseer Memon highlighted the importance of the festival and said this initiative has resulted into national debate and discourse on the status of mother languages.

He said the Senate of Pakistan held first ever public hearing on the issue of national languages which is a welcome outcome of the festival.  Prominent scholar and writer Ahmed Saleem said the festival is a window of knowledge and exposure to rich cultural and linguistic diversity of Pakistan. The ceremony concluded with distribution of certificates of appreciation for volunteers and honorary shields for the members of ICF, SPO and Lok Virsa.