Karachi Literature Festival - USAID

 Event Date Venue Organized by Press coverage date Date of Compilation Number of Pages Karachi Literature Festival January 26th, 2016, February 5, 6, 7, 2016 The Arts Council of Pakistan, M. R. Kayani Road, Karachi/ Beach Luxury hotel Oxford University Press January 27th, 2016, February 6, 7, 8 2016 Feb 09, 2016 40 pages including title page Press Conference The Frontier Post KARACHI: The seventh Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) will be held on 5, 6, and 7 February 2016 at the Beach Luxury Hotel, Karachi. KLF brings together and celebrates Pakistani and international authors writing in diverse languages. The festival will feature talks, panel discussions, readings, book launches, English and Urdu mushaira, stand-­‐up comedy, author signings, performing arts, art exhibition, film screenings, separate art strand, music, dance, book fair, literary awards, food court, and much more. This was announced by Ameena Saiyid OBE, Managing Director, Oxford University Press, and Founder / Director, Karachi Literature Festival, and Co-­‐founder, Childrens Literature Festival, at a press conference held at the Arts Council of Pakistan. An event like the Karachi Literature Festival, the seventh in this city, is like a beacon whose light spreads out far beyond the grounds of the Beach Luxury Hotel indeed, far beyond this city itself, said Ameena Saiyid. The Festival has grown rapidly. Attendance rose from roughly 5,000 in 2010 to 1,25,000 in 2015, she added. KLF is not merely a local affair. With participants and visitors from all over the country, from all four provinces and all of our major cities, this is truly an all-­‐Pakistan event. More so, with participants from India, UK, USA, Germany, France, Italy, and Austria, it is truly an international event, said Asif Farrukhi, Co-­‐founder of the Karachi Literature Festival. Ameena Saiyid disclosed that 224 Pakistani and 38 international authors and speakers from seven countries will attend the festival this year. Pervez Hoodbhoy and Fahmida Riaz will be the keynote speakers at the inauguration. The closing ceremony will be addressed by Ziauddin Sardar and Rakhshanda Jalil. There will be 21 book launches and more than 90 sessions. Among the many literary luminaries, academics, and journalists participating, both from Pakistan and abroad, some of the notable names include Ali Akbar Natiq, Amar Jaleel, Anwar Masood, Arshad Mahmud, Anupam Kher, Asghar Nadeem Syed, Attiya Dawood, Ayesha Omar, Azra Abbas, Barbara D. Metcalf, Barkha Dutt, Bina Shah, Ishrat Husain, Feryal Ali-­‐Gauhar, H. M. Naqvi, Harris Khalique, Haseena Moin, Hina Rabbani Khar, Imdad Hussaini, Intizar Husain, Jamsheed Marker, Kamila Shamsie, Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, Kishwar Naheed, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, Mahtab Akbar Rashdi, Mirza Waheed, Mohammed Hanif, Mustansar Hussain Tarar, Najmuddin Shaikh, Nandita Das, Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, Noor ul Huda Shah, Saad Haroon, Sadia Shepard, Sahar Ansari, Salman Khurshid, Sanam Saeed, Sania Saeed, Sarmad Khoosat, Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Syed Salim Raza, Tahira Syed, Tapu Javeri, Uzma Aslam Khan, Zaheda Hina, and Zehra Nigah. Ameena Saiyid also announced that the KLF Coca-­‐Cola Best Non-­‐Fiction Book Prize, KLF Embassy of France Best Fiction Book Prize, KLF Peace Prize (Consulate General and Embassy of Germany) and the KLF Urdu Fiction / Non-­‐Fiction Book Prize will be awarded through the platform of the seventh KLF. The panel of judges for the prizes, including some of Pakistans most eminent critics, writers, and scholars, have shortlisted three books for each prize category. The shortlisted books for the KLF Best Non-­‐Fiction Book Prize include Rethinking Identities in Contemporary Pakistani Fiction: Beyond 9/11 by Aroosa Kanwal; A Princely Affair: The Accession and Integration of the Princely States of Pakistan, 19471955 by Yaqoob Khan Bangash; and Purifying the Land of the Pure: Pakistan’s Religious Minorities by Farahnaz Ispahani. The books shortlisted for the KLF Urdu Fiction/Non-­‐Fiction Book Prize, being awarded for the first time from the KLF platform, are Maaani sey Ziada by Najeeba Arif; Dhoop Kiran by Imdad Husaini; and Alamgeeriyat aur Deegar Mazamin by Nasir Abbas Nayyar. The annual Karachi Literature Festival is about the promotion of reading, writing, and authors, and of bringing enrichment to people’s minds. As always the entry to the event will be free and the timings will be from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on 5, 6, and 7 February. This year the USAID-­‐Funded Pakistan Reading Project is the title sponsor of the event. Sponsorship support is also being provided by United Bank Limited; Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Karachi; Goethe Institute; Embassy of France, Islamabad; Consulate General of France, Karachi; Alliance Francaise, Karachi; US Consulate General, Karachi; Embassy of Italy, Islamabad; Consulate of Italy, Karachi; British Deputy High Commission; Lifebuoy; Lipton; Lays; British Council; American Institute of Pakistan Studies; South Asian Institute, University of Texas; Coca-­‐Cola; Tehzeeb Foundation; and Art Now. http://www.thefrontierpost.com/article/371274/oup-­‐to-­‐hold-­‐7th-­‐karachi-­‐literature-­‐festival/ Pakistan Today Karachi Literature Festival to begin from Feb 5 The seventh Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) will be held from February 5 to Feb 7 at the Beach Luxury Hotel. Through the festival, the KLF will bring together and celebrate Pakistani and international authors writing in diverse languages. The festival will feature talks, panel discussions, readings, book launches, English and Urdu mushaira, stand-­‐up comedy, author signings, performing arts, art exhibition, film screenings, separate art strand, music, dance, book fair, literary awards, food court, and much more. Addressing a press conference in this connection, Karachi Literature Festival Founder/Director and Oxford University Press Managing Director Ameena Saiyid said, “An event like the KLF, the seventh in this city, is like a beacon whose light spreads out far beyond the grounds of the Beach Luxury Hotel, indeed, far beyond this city itself.” She said the festival had grown rapidly as attendance soared from roughly 5,000 in 2010 to 125,000 in 2015. She said the KLF was not merely a local affair, adding that “with participants and visitors from all over the country, from all four provinces and all of our major cities, this is truly an all-­‐
Pakistan event.” Speaking on the occasion, KLF co-­‐founder Asif Farrukhi said that with participants from India, the UK, US, Germany, France, Italy, and Austria, it was truly an international event. Saiyid disclosed that 224 Pakistani and 38 international authors and speakers from seven countries woulb attend the festival this year. According to details, Pervez Hoodbhoy and Fahmida Riaz will be the keynote speakers at the inauguration, while the closing ceremony will be addressed by Ziauddin Sardar and Rakhshanda Jalil. There will be 21 book launches and more than 90 sessions during the event. Among the many literary luminaries, academics, and journalists participating, both from Pakistan and abroad, some of the notable names include Ali Akbar Natiq, Amar Jaleel, Anwar Masood, Arshad Mahmud, Anupam Kher, Asghar Nadeem Syed, Attiya Dawood, Ayesha Omar, Azra Abbas, Barbara D. Metcalf, Barkha Dutt, Bina Shah, Ishrat Husain, Feryal Ali-­‐Gauhar, H. M. Naqvi, Harris Khalique, Haseena Moin, Hina Rabbani Khar, Imdad Hussaini, Intizar Husain, Jamsheed Marker, Kamila Shamsie, Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, Kishwar Naheed, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, Mahtab Akbar Rashdi, Mirza Waheed, Mohammed Hanif, Mustansar Hussain Tarar, Najmuddin Shaikh, Nandita Das, Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, Noor ul Huda Shah, Saad Haroon, Sadia Shepard, Sahar Ansari, Salman Khurshid, Sanam Saeed, Sania Saeed, Sarmad Khoosat, Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Syed Salim Raza, Tahira Syed, Tapu Javeri, Uzma Aslam Khan, Zaheda Hina, and Zehra Nigah. The annual Karachi Literature Festival is about the promotion of reading, writing, and authors, and of bringing enrichment to people’s minds. As always the entry to the event will be free. This year the USAID-­‐Funded Pakistan Reading Project is the title sponsor of the event. Sponsorship support is also being provided by United Bank Limited; Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Karachi; Goethe Institute; Embassy of France, Islamabad; Consulate General of France, Karachi; Alliance Francaise, Karachi; US Consulate General, Karachi; Embassy of Italy, Islamabad; Consulate of Italy, Karachi; British Deputy High Commission; Lifebuoy; Lipton; Lays; British Council; American Institute of Pakistan Studies; South Asian Institute, University of Texas; Coca-­‐Cola; Tehzeeb Foundation; and ArtNow. http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/01/26/city/karachi/karachi-­‐literature-­‐festival-­‐to-­‐begin-­‐
from-­‐feb-­‐5/ Dawn Literary luminaries, showbiz glitterati to attend 7th KLF KARACHI: More than 200 Pakistani and 38 international authors will take part in the 99-­‐plus sessions at the 7th Karachi Literature Festival to be held on Feb 5, 6 and 7 at the Beach Luxury Hotel. This was announced by KLF founder and Oxford University Press managing director Ameena Saiyid at a press conference on Tuesday evening. Ms Saiyid said since Feb 5 would be a public holiday on account of Kashmir Day, the organisers would have a whole day of activities. This year, she said, there would be five simultaneous sessions. She said the keynote speakers for the opening day were Pervez Hoodbhoy and poet Fahmida Riaz, while a UK-­‐based Islamic scholar, Ziauddin Sardar, and Indian literary critic Rakshanda Jalil would deliver keynote speeches on the closing day. She said 21 books would be launched at the event. Talking about prizes for the best books written in the genres of fiction and non-­‐fiction, she said the KLF peace prize winner would be awarded on the second day of the festival. She said a new category ‘Italy Reads Pakistan’ had been introduced in which a Pakistani book would be selected and translated into Italian. The announcement for it would be made in 2017, she added. Ms Saiyid said apart from Rakhshanda Jalil, actors Anupam Kher, Nandita Das and Noor Zaheer (daughter of Sajjad Zaheer) would speak at different sessions. She also took some names of international authors representing eight countries. She highlighted sessions on Rumi and Khusrau and said the Pakistani film ‘Manto’ would also be screened in the presence of its cast and crew. She also thanked all the sponsors of the event. KLF co-­‐founder Asif Farrukhi said when seven years back Ms Saiyid and him first thought about organising the event they were not sure as to how many people would turn up for it. Some 5,000 people came in the first year, he said, and the number kept on increasing, so much so that now people often phoned him to inquire about when the festival was going to be held. He said every year they tried to do something different and the objective was to discuss important issues, such as this year it would be helpful to know as to what the situation in Tharparkar was or what was Pakistan’s official language. German consul-­‐general Rainer Schmiedchen said Germany was proud to be associated with the KLF. He said not only the German consulate but the Goethe Institut was involved in the event. He talked about the German peace prize winner that would be awarded on Feb 6 in one of the pre-­‐lunch sessions. He said the award would be given to an outstanding work of literature that promoted peace and interfaith harmony. He then informed the media on the various literary prizes given in Germany. The deputy head of mission of the UK High Commission, Steve Crossman, said the high commission was pleased to be part of the KLF. He said the UK had been associated with it since the beginning. He said reading was the greatest gift of education and added that he was looking forward to an exciting, vibrant programme. Fahad Qadir of Coca Cola, Dr Hina Kazmi of the USAID Pakistan Reading Project and Ahmed Shah of the Arts Council Karachi also spoke. http://www.dawn.com/news/1235587 Pakistan Observer KARACHI LITERATURE FESTIVAL BECOMES A FOCAL POINT FOR BOOK LOVERS Wednesday, January 27, 2016 -­‐ Karachi—The seventh Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) will be held on 5, 6, and 7 February 2016 at the Beach Luxury Hotel, Karachi. KLF brings together and celebrates Pakistani and international authors writing in diverse languages. The festival will feature talks, panel discussions, readings, book launches, English and Urdu mushaira, stand-­‐up comedy, author signings, performing arts, art exhibition, film screenings, separate art strand, music, dance, book fair, literary awards, food court, and much more. This was announced by Ameena Saiyid OBE, Managing Director, Oxford University Press (OUP), and Founder/Director, Karachi Literature Festival, and Co-­‐founder, Children’s Literature Festival, at a press conference held at the Arts Council of Pakistan. “An event like the Karachi Literature Festival, the seventh in this city, is like a beacon whose light spreads out far beyond the grounds of the Beach Luxury Hotel—indeed, far beyond this city itself,” said Ameena Saiyid. “The Festival has grown rapidly. Attendance rose from roughly 5,000 in 2010 to 1,25,000 in 2015,” she added. “KLF is not merely a local affair. With participants and visitors from all over the country, from all four provinces and all of our major cities, this is truly an all-­‐Pakistan event. More so, with participants from India, UK, USA, Germany, France, Italy, and Austria, it is truly an international event,” said Asif Farrukhi, Co-­‐founder of the Karachi Literature Festival. Ameena Saiyid disclosed that 224 Pakistani and 38 international authors and speakers from seven countries will attend the festival this year. Pervez Hoodbhoy and Fahmida Riaz will be the keynote speakers at the inauguration. The closing ceremony will be addressed by Ziauddin Sardar and Rakhshanda Jalil. There will be 21 book launches and more than 90 sessions. Among the many literary luminaries, academics, and journalists participating, both from Pakistan and abroad, some of the notable names include Ali Akbar Natiq, Amar Jaleel, Anwar Masood, Arshad Mahmud, Anupam Kher, Asghar Nadeem Syed, Attiya Dawood, Ayesha Omar, Azra Abbas, Barbara D. Metcalf, Barkha Dutt, Bina Shah, Ishrat Husain, Feryal Ali-­‐Gauhar, HM Naqvi, Harris Khalique, Haseena Moin, Hina Rabbani Khar, Imdad Hussaini, Intizar Husain, Jamsheed Marker, Kamila Shamsie, Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, Kishwar Naheed, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, Mahtab Akbar Rashdi, Mirza Waheed, Mohammed Hanif, Mustansar Hussain Tarar, Najmuddin Shaikh, Nandita Das, Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, Noor ul Huda Shah, Saad Haroon, Sadia Shepard, Sahar Ansari, Salman Khurshid, Sanam Saeed, Sania Saeed, Sarmad Khoosat, Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Syed Salim Raza, Tahira Syed, Tapu Javeri, Uzma Aslam Khan, Zaheda Hina, and Zehra Nigah. Ameena Saiyid also announced that the KLF Coca-­‐Cola Best Non-­‐Fiction Book Prize, KLF Embassy of France Best Fiction Book Prize, KLF Peace Prize (Consulate General and Embassy of Germany) and the KLF Urdu Fiction/Non-­‐Fiction Book Prize will be awarded through the platform of the seventh KLF. The panel of judges for the prizes, including some of Pakistan’s most eminent critics, writers, and scholars, have shortlisted three books for each prize category. The shortlisted books for the KLF Best Non-­‐Fiction Book Prize include Rethinking Identities in Contemporary Pakistani Fiction: Beyond 9/11 by Aroosa Kanwal; A Princely Affair: The Accession and Integration of the Princely States of Pakistan, 1947–1955 by Yaqoob Khan Bangash; and Purifying the Land of the Pure: Pakistan’s Religious Minorities by Farahnaz Ispahani. The books shortlisted for the KLF Urdu Fiction/Non-­‐Fiction Book Prize, being awarded for the first time from the KLF platform, are Ma’aani sey Ziada by Najeeba Arif; Dhoop Kiran by Imdad Husaini; and Alamgeeriyat aur Deegar Mazamin by Nasir Abbas Nayyar. The annual Karachi Literature Festival is about the promotion of reading, writing, and authors, and of bringing enrichment to people’s minds. As always the entry to the event will be free and the timings will be from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on 5, 6, and 7 February. This year the USAID-­‐Funded Pakistan Reading Project is the title sponsor of the event. http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=287104 SAMAA US consul general opens Karachi Literature Festival Karachi – U.S. Consul General Brian Heath delivered opening remarks at the seventh Karachi Literature Festival (KLF). Festival founders Ameena Saiyid and Asif Farrukhi also attended. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Consulate General are proud to once again sponsor the event. “The Karachi Literature Festival is one of the most anticipated and important cultural events in Karachi,” said the U.S. consul general. “No other forum provides such a setting for writers, intellectuals, and artists from across Pakistan and around the world. It highlights Pakistan’s dynamic literary tradition and Karachi’s rightful place as a cultural capital,” said Mr. Heath. The U.S. consul general pointed to USAID’s Pakistan Reading Program as doing much to advance the cause of literacy. The five-­‐year, $160 million project aims to improve the reading ability of more than 1 million children in Pakistan. In addition, USAID and the Sindh government are partnering on the Sindh Basic Education Program. This $155 million program seeks to increase and sustain student enrollment in primary, middle and secondary schools in seven districts of Northern Sindh and five towns of Karachi. At the festival, USAID is sponsoring a panel discussion on the role that communities and parents play in encouraging literacy and reading as well as a session on mother tongues as a medium of instruction and learning. Meanwhile, U.S. Consulate General Karachi is hosting panel discussions on cultural heritage and preservation, and the role of U.S. government exchange programs in promoting literature and the arts in Pakistan. “We realize that it is important not only to develop basic literacy, but also to support and promote talented artists and young people who continue to contribute to Pakistan’s proud literary tradition,” said the U.S. consul general. “Besides learning to read, we want participants to feel engaged with art that speaks to their experiences and aspirations.” – SAMAA http://www.samaa.tv/arts-­‐culture/2016/02/us-­‐consul-­‐general-­‐opens-­‐karachi-­‐literature-­‐festival/ Express Tribune KLF remembers the father of literature festivals KARACHI: The morning hour on a public holiday did not keep the crowd away from the 7th Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) which kicked off Friday with a special tribute to writer Intizar Hussain, who recently passed away.Oxford University Press (OUP) managing director Ameena Saiyid requested a moment of silence for Hussain, who had been a known face at literature festivals in the past and was scheduled to appear this year as well. “It is in these very gardens that writer Nadeem Aslam called Intizar Hussain the greatest living writer on earth,” she said. KLF co-­‐founder Asif Farrukhi too paid homage Hussain. Over the years, Hussain had become the father of literature festivals, he said. “He is now in the assembly of immortals,” he said, adding that he’s with them as a mourning spirit of all literary festivals.Saiyid spoke about KLF’s journey so far. “For Asif and I, starting KLF was an act of defiance,” she said. Awards announced: The awards for the best works of fiction and non-­‐fiction were also presented during the inauguration ceremony. Aamer Hussein’s ‘37 Bridges and Other Stories’ won the best fiction book prize while the non-­‐fiction award went to ‘Rethinking Identities in Contemporary Pakistani Fiction: Beyond 9/11’. For the first time, KLF also recognised works in Urdu language. A combined award for Urdu fiction and non-­‐fiction was given to Dr Najiba Arif. Literature and violence: During her keynote speech, poet Fahmida Riaz lamented the loss of two literary giants, Intizar Hussain and Punjabi and Urdu writer, Nasreen Anjum Bhatti. “Even before Intizar Hussain’s death when I was deciding on a topic for my keynote address, there was one deadly incident after another,” she said, adding how the APS attack was hardly forgotten when the Charsadda attack happened.“Can we keep literature away from such incidents?” she asked. “As Gabriel García Márquez titled his book ‘Love In the Time of Cholera’, we too have to keep the festival amid terrorism and bloodshed. This is the only way to deal with the situation.” Riaz regretted that the sale of books at KLF is not as high as one would expect. She suggested making it mandatory for visitors to take at least one book home when they attend the festival. The second keynote speaker, nuclear physicist Pervez Hoodbhoy, drew similarities and differences between people living on either side of the border based on his recent visit to India. “Like us, they [Indians] live in the past,” he said. “But in other places they are crazier than we are,” he said, referring to a ‘religious mathematics’ subject that is taught in some parts of India as part of the curriculum. Their diligence towards the written word in Sanskrit is the same as we have for Arabic, he pointed out. Hoodbhoy took the discussion back to the tendency of both nations to live in the past and glorify it. Today, we know more about the world than our predecessors did. Be it the solar system, asteroids or the very framework of an atom, we know more than our ancestors did, he said. Published in The Express Tribune, February 6th, 2016. http://tribune.com.pk/story/1041167/klf-­‐remembers-­‐the-­‐father-­‐of-­‐literature-­‐festivals/ Daily Times Seventh Karachi Literature Festival kicks off KARACHI: A three-­‐day event, Seventh Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) commenced on Friday at the Beach Luxury Hotel under the auspices of the Oxford University Press (OUP) Pakistan.Addressing the inaugural session OUP Managing Director Ameena Saiyid said that KLF is free and open to all, bringing together and celebrating authors writing in diverse languages, genres and traditions. It features debates, discussions, lectures, mushairas, a book fair, book launches, readings, signings, comedy, satire, theatre, cinema, music, dance, storytelling, art, singing, and an art programme directed by Fawzia Naqvi of ArtNow. Ameena mentioned that KLF attendance showed exponential growth since the first festival as it was only about 5,000 the first time and rose to 125,000 last year. In 2010, OUP thought they had done quite well by presenting 35 speakers, but the snowball had only begun to roll. This year KLF welcomes over 250 authors. The first KLF was launched in March 2010 and was greeted with great enthusiasm. It struck roots into people’s minds and hearts as it met their long-­‐felt needs. It has since become a defining event on the intellectual and cultural calendar of Karachi and on the calendars of those from other cities of Pakistan including Islamabad, Lahore, Faisalabad, and Hyderabad, she further added. US Consul General Karachi Brian Heath also attended the KLF. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Consulate General sponsored the event. “The Karachi Literature Festival is one of the most anticipated and important cultural events held,” said the US consul general, and added, “No other forum provides such a setting for writers, intellectuals and artists from all over the nation and around the world. It highlights Pakistan’s dynamic literary tradition and Karachi’s rightful place as a cultural capital.” The US consul general pointed to USAID’s Pakistan Reading Programme as doing much to advance the cause of literacy. The five-­‐year, $160 million project aims to improve the reading ability of more than 1 million children of Pakistan. In addition, the USAID and the Sindh government are partnering on the Sindh Basic Education Programme, which amounts to $155 million and seeks to increase and sustain student enrolments in primary, middle and secondary schools in seven districts of Northern Sindh and five towns of Karachi. At the festival, USAID also sponsored a panel discussion on communities and parents that play a strong role in encouraging literacy and reading as well as a session on mother tongues as a medium of instruction and learning. Meanwhile, Brian Heath also hosted panel discussions on cultural heritage and preservation, and the role of US government exchange programmes in promoting literature and the arts in Pakistan. “We realise that it is important not only to develop basic literacy but also to support and promote talented artists and young people who continue to contribute to Pakistan’s proud literary tradition,” said the US consul general. “Besides learning to read, we want the participants to feel engaged with art that speaks to their experiences and aspirations,” Brian Heath concluded. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/sindh/06-­‐Feb-­‐2016/seventh-­‐karachi-­‐literature-­‐festival-­‐kicks-­‐off The News 7th Karachi literature extravaganza gets off the ground – Karachi Literature Festival opens to quench literary thirst of thousands Karachi Friday morning was a real balmy, sunny one with the gentle Arabian Sea breeze cutting through the palm fronts and a galaxy of celebrities streaming into the venue, the seaside Beach Luxury Hotel with its well-­‐manicured, lush lawns. Thus began the seventh Karachi Literature Festival (KLF), sponsored by the Oxford University Press and co-­‐sponsored by the USAID, the German, French and Italian consulates-­‐general in town and their embassies in Islamabad. Seeing the large number of Pakistani writers and authors from overseas who have made a mark for themselves in their adopted climes was a moment of real pride for all of us Pakistanis and a reassurance that Pakistan’s image overseas was not just bomb blasts or suicide bombings but also oozing talent. The Pakistani diaspora did us Pakistanis real proud. The programme got going with a guitar rendition of the national anthem by the Asif Sinan group. This was followed by another group dance by a rural group, the Chao Dance and Theatre. At least, the dance was absolutely rural in character. This was followed by a beautiful Indo-­‐Pakistani classical dance by Amna Mawaz Khan, a pupil of the famous classical dancer Indu Mitha. Then came Ameena Saiyid, managing director of the Oxford University Press, Pakistan, and her welcome speech. She requested a minute’s silence in memory of the late Intizar Hussain, who passed away last Tuesday. She gave a highly optimistic picture of the event. She said that while at the first literature festival in 2010, the turnout of visitors was 5,000, at the sixth one last year it was 125,000. In 2010, she said, there were 35 speakers while last year there were 250 speakers. The Oxford University Press, she said, published school and college textbooks in 40 countries. Dr Asif Aslam Farrukhi, co-­‐founder of the festival, said, “We have come a long way in seven years, covered many milestones.” The city of Karachi, he said, offered immense opportunities for cultural and literary activities. USAID representative Barbara Toye-­‐Welsh, thanking Saiyid for having included the USAID in the endeavour, said: “Our participation will show our commitment to literature and culture.”Outgoing UK High Commissioner Philip Barton said that it was really heartening to see the interest the festival had elicited overseas.This, he said, showed that the negative press Pakistan had been receiving overseas was not to be believed. He praised the way democracy was becoming entrenched in the country. US Consul-­‐General in Karachi Brian Heath said the KLF reflected Pakistan’s diversity in literature. German Consul-­‐General Rainer Schmiedchen termed the literature festival the most important part of Karachi’s cultural life, and felicitated Ameena Saiyid on the successful organisation of the event. Mr Debussy of the French Embassy, Islamabad, also addressed the event. Talking about the newly initiated USAID Reading Project, he said over 1.2 million grades I and II children would benefit from the project. Besides, he said, the programme would train 25,000 teachers in Sindh. Italian Consul-­‐General Gianluca Rubagotti hailed the KLF as a wonderful platform for the exchange of ideas. The two keynote speakers, poetess Fehmida Riaz and Internationally acclaimed nuclear physicist Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy, pleaded for tolerance and love. Riaz said the only way we could counter terrorism was through love and tolerance and these, in turn, were totally dependent on the pursuit of things literary. Condoling the deaths of Intizar Hussain and Punjabi/Urdu poetess Nasreen Anjum Bhatti in Lahore recently, she said Bhatti was a Christian, but how she had put aside her religious difference and contributed to the literary heritage of the country.Hoodbhoy, in his usual sceptical tone, cited his recent visits to India to some science institutes and the Indian Science Congress where, he said, Prime Minister Modi claimed that plastic surgery had been carried out in India thousands of years ago and that Ganesh’s elephant-­‐like trunk was also a result of plastic surgery. He said that we the people of the subcontinent had this incorrigible habit of living in the past and feasting on our whims of pristine glory. However, he said the difference he found between Pakistan and India was the manner whereby the public spoke up when there was an incident of bigotry and religious fanaticism. He cited the case where there had been a petition of 2,000 signatures asking for punishment for the murder of three intellectuals. Comparing the past and the present, he favoured the present and recounted all the mindboggling progress like landing on asteroids and discovering planets far beyond Pluto which was once known to be the farthest planet.He said that to overcome these aberrations in their thinking, people of the subcontinent would have to stop living in the past and keep abreast of the developed world for which cultivating the reading habit and analytical thinking were a must. He said analytical thinking would come only with impetus to literature and literary pursuits. “It is only through an enlightened society that we can hope for the intellectual advancement of society. Art and literature can bring about human oneness. As long as we have literature festivals, there’s mighty hope,” Dr Hoodbhoy said. Literary awards were announced and the literary award for fiction went to Aamir Hussain for his “Collection of Thirty-­‐seven short stories”. The prize for the best Urdu novel, sponsored by the Infaq Foundation, went to Najiba Arif. Aroosa Kanwal got the award for non-­‐fiction. http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/96284-­‐7th-­‐Karachi-­‐literature-­‐extravaganza-­‐gets-­‐off-­‐the-­‐ground The Capital News Seventh Karachi Literature Festival Begins KARACHI: The seventh Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) has started today (Friday) with all its charms and colours at Beach Luxury Hotel. United States Consul General Brian Heath, Festival founders, Asif Farrukhi, Ameena Saiyid and others attended the opening ceremony of the festival. Brian Heath his remarks said, “The Karachi Literature Festival is one of the most anticipated and important cultural events in Karachi.” “No other forum provides such platform for intellectuals, writers, and artists from across Pakistan and around the world. “It highlights Pakistan’s dynamic literary tradition and Karachi’s rightful place as a cultural capital,” said Mr. Heath. At the festival, USAID is sponsoring a panel discussion on the role that communities and parents play in encouraging literacy and reading as well as a session on mother tongues as a medium of instruction and learning.Meanwhile, U.S. Consulate General Karachi is hosting panel discussions on cultural heritage and preservation, and the role of U.S. government exchange programs in promoting literature and the arts in Pakistan. “We realize that it is important not only to develop basic literacy, but also to support and promote talented artists and young people who continue to contribute to Pakistan’s proud literary tradition,” said the U.S. consul general. “Besides learning to read, we want participants to feel engaged with art that speaks to their experiences and aspirations. http://dailycapital.pk/seventh-­‐karachi-­‐literature-­‐festival-­‐begins/ The Geo News Seventh Karachi Literature Festival Underway KARACHI: The seventh Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) kicked off with all its colours at Beach Luxury Hotel on Friday.US Consul General Brian Heath, Festival founders Ameena Saiyid and Asif Farrukhi and others attended the opening ceremony. Brian Heath in his opening remarks said, “The Karachi Literature Festival is one of the most anticipated and important cultural events in Karachi.” “No other forum provides such a setting for writers, intellectuals, and artists from across Pakistan and around the world. It highlights Pakistan’s dynamic literary tradition and Karachi’s rightful place as a cultural capital,” said Mr. Heath. At the festival, USAID is sponsoring a panel discussion on the role that communities and parents play in encouraging literacy and reading as well as a session on mother tongues as a medium of instruction and learning.Meanwhile, U.S. Consulate General Karachi is hosting panel discussions on cultural heritage and preservation, and the role of U.S. government exchange programs in promoting literature and the arts in Pakistan. “We realize that it is important not only to develop basic literacy, but also to support and promote talented artists and young people who continue to contribute to Pakistan’s proud literary tradition,” said the U.S. consul general. “Besides learning to read, we want participants to feel engaged with art that speaks to their experiences and aspirations.” http://www.geo.tv/latest/100893-­‐Seventh-­‐Karachi-­‐Literature-­‐Festival-­‐kicks-­‐off#sthash.hNlfJJta.dpuf Pakistan Observer KARACHI LITERATURE FESTIVAL BEGINS WITH LITERARY ENTHUSIASM Saturday, February 06, 2016 -­‐ Karachi—Oxford University Press (OUP) once again gathered avid readers, writers, academics, and literary figures from across Pakistan and the world at the 7th Karachi Literature Festival, starting from Friday at the Beach Luxury Hotel, Karachi. Addressing to inaugural session Ameena Saiyid OBE, Managing Director, OUP, said KLF is free and open to all bringing together and celebrates authors writing in diverse languages, genres, and traditions. It features debates, discussions, lectures, mushaira, a book fair, book launches, readings, signings, comedy, satire, theatre, cinema, music, dance, storytelling, art, singing, and an art programme curated by Fawzia Naqvi of ArtNow. She mentioned that KLF attendance showedexponential growth since its launch as it was only about 5,000 the first time and rose to 125,000 last year. In 2010, we thought we had done quite well by presenting 35 speakers. But the snowball had only begun to roll. This year we welcome over 250 authors. Each year, our speakers have been literary giants including Shamsur Rahman Faruqi, Karen Armstrong, William Dalrymple, Nadeem Aslam, Dr Rajmohan Gandhi, Nayantara Sahgal, Zehra Nigah, and the late Intizar Husain who has participated in every KLF and ILF, Saiyid said. This year’skeynote speakers are nuclear scientist and outspoken social critic, Dr Pervez Hoodhboy, and award-­‐winning poetess Fahmida Riaz. And there are more than 250 speakers to regale you. The first KLF was launched in March 2010 and was greeted with great enthusiasm. It struck roots into people’s minds and hearts since it met their long-­‐felt needs. It has since become a defining event on the Intellectual and Cultural Calendar of Karachi and on the calendars of those from other cities of Pakistan: Islamabad, Lahore, Faisalabad, and Hyderabad, she further added. This momentum reflects the depth of our historical, literary, and cultural roots, and the great desire and energy everywhere in Pakistan to celebrate the pursuit of knowledge, understanding, and creativity. In the context of Pakistan, we are talking about rich, ancient and diverse cultures and literatures and, through KLF, we hope they will find their place in the post-­‐modern world. The festivities commenced today at 10am with a performance by Asif Sinan. It was be followed by a performance by Chao’s Dance and Theatre, and Amna Mawaz Khan. Awards of KLF Best Fiction, Non Fiction and Urdu Fiction/Non Fiction Bookswere handed out. Keynote Speeches were be by Pervez Hoodbhoy and Fahmida Riaz. After the break, sessions commenced with “The Dilemmas of the Transgender” where Arfa Sayeda Zehra was in conversation with Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, author of “Me Laxmi, Me Hijra”, ‘Education and Reading: Community and Parental Involvement’ was moderated by Shaheen Attiq-­‐ur-­‐Rahman, ‘Chap Tilak: Amir Khusro’s Harvest of Folk Songs’ with Talat Hashmi, Zaheda Hina and Taimur Khan Mumtaz was moderated by Kausar S. Khan. Book Launch: “In Another Country by Rafique Kathwari” was moderated by Salman Tarik Kureshi and ‘Book Launch: Leaves from Lahore by Mehr Tarar’ was moderated by Syed Nusrat Ali. “Making an Artist” with Nurayah Sheikh Nabi, Zarmeene Shah, and Mahreen Zuberi was moderated by Saira Sheikh. “Book Launch: Cinema and Society: Film and Social Change in Pakistan by Ali Khan and Ali Nobil Ahmad” was moderated by Asif Noorani, ‘Book Launch: Intikhab-­‐e-­‐Kalam: Munir Niazi and the Urdu Virsa series’ was moderated by Mujahid Barelvi, ‘How Publishers Bring Out the Best’ with Andrea Berrini, Ameena Saiyid, and Afzaal Ahmad, was moderated by Hoori Noorani, and ‘The Art of Writing’ with Amra Ali, Marjorie Husain, H.M. Naqvi, Quddus Mirza, and Tauqeer Muhajir was moderated by Maliha Noorani. http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=288203 Business Recorder Karachi Literature Festival commences The Seventh Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) commenced at a local hotel on Friday. The three-­‐day event is being held under the auspices of the Oxford University Press (OUP) Pakistan. The US Consul General in Karachi, Brian Heath, delivered opening remarks at the KLF). Festival founders Ameena Saiyid and Asif Farrukhi also attended. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Consulate General are once again sponsor the event. "The Karachi Literature Festival is one of the most anticipated and important cultural events in Karachi," said the US consul general. "No other forum provides such a setting for writers, intellectuals, and artists from across Pakistan and around the world. It highlights Pakistan's dynamic literary tradition and Karachi's rightful place as a cultural capital," said Heath. The US Consul General pointed to USAID's Pakistan Reading Program as doing much to advance the cause of literacy. The five-­‐year, $160 million project aims to improve the reading ability of more than 1 million children in Pakistan. In addition, USAID and the Sindh government are partnering on the Sindh Basic Education Program. This $155 million program seeks to increase and sustain student enrolment in primary, middle and secondary schools in seven districts of Northern Sindh and five towns of Karachi. At the festival, USAID is sponsoring a panel discussion on the role that communities and parents play in encouraging literacy and reading as well as a session on mother tongues as a medium of instruction and learning. Meanwhile, US Consulate General Karachi is hosting panel discussions on cultural heritage and preservation, and the role of US government exchange programs in promoting literature and the arts in Pakistan. "We realise that it is important not only to develop basic literacy, but also to support and promote talented artists and young people who continue to contribute to Pakistan's proud literary tradition, said the US Consul General. "Besides learning to read, we want participants to feel engaged with art that speaks to their experiences and aspirations." http://www.brecorder.com/general-­‐news/172/13859/ ARY News Karachi Literature Festival 2016 comes to an end after much fanfare February 8, 2016 @ 11:40 AM KARACHI: The three-­‐day festival finally came to an end on Sunday December 7, 2016 after much excitement, musical performances and panel discussions. Ever since the dates for the annual Karachi Literature Festival were announced, people couldn’t wait for their favourite festival to commence. The location was Hotel Beach Luxury, an appropriate choice to house so many people and contain numerous stalls. Throughout all three days the event took place, thousands showed up to buy a book, attend a session, look around or simply to have sumptuous snacks from the Food Court. Renowned speakers from within Pakistan and abroad were issued the invites. Most of them came, to the public’s delight whereas some of them could not. Anupam Kher’s dilemma did make headlines as did Nandita Das’ health excuse for not attending KLF 2016. However, setbacks they might be, but couldn’t hinder the public from showing up in droves at the appointed venue. Some of the sessions that generated quite an interest among the audience were famous Barkha Dutt’s book launch, Laughter is the Best Medicine (moderated by Nadeem F. Paracha), Tharparkar: Desert Woes, The Dilemmas of the Transgender and Salman Khurshid’s book launch. As was expected, numerous book stalls were lined up for prospective customers to take a look at. Adjacent to the Main Garden, a large canopy was set up under which book vendors had set up their stalls. Another mobile book shop was set up inside the Main Garden of the hotel. Throughout the three days, over 200 speakers informed, am used, enthralled and entertained audience members. Saad Haroon had attendees in hysterics via his signature stand-­‐up comedy act at the closing ceremony on Sunday while Zoe Viccaji had already rocked the crowd on the first day. All in all, the Karachi Literature Festival was a resounding success. Such events not only highlight Karachi’s literary significance but also provide the city’s residents to relax and enjoy. As stated above, throughout the festival, people showed up in huge numbers. Sessions were held in the Main Garden, Tulip/Terrace, Jasmine, 007 and Aquarius venues (among others). Such events should be held in Pakistan in general and Karachi in particular, since the lit-­‐lovers from the city couldn’t get enough of the festival. Also, attendees were delighted to meet and greet some of their favourite celebrities not only from within the country but from across the border as well. Views were shared, ideas were exchanged. http://arynews.tv/en/karachi-­‐literature-­‐festival-­‐2016-­‐comes-­‐to-­‐an-­‐end-­‐after-­‐much-­‐fanfare/ The Citizen A LOT MORE TO THE KARACHI LIT FEST THAN ANUPAM KHER Sunday, February 07,2016 NEW DELHI: In India, the Karachi Literature Festival is (unfortunately) synonymous with a controversy involving actor Anupam Kher, who alleged that the Pakistani government denied him a visa to travel to partake in the three day festival. The Pakistani High Commissioner to India denied that Kher had been refused the necessary visa, following that up with a call to the actor and an assurance that a visa will be granted. Anupam Kher rejected the offer, saying that he had already “given away those dates.” There is, however, a lot more to the festival than Anupam Kher’s attendance, although the promotion of people-­‐to-­‐people bilateral ties does form an integral part, with 18 actors from india, including Kher, having been invited to the festival. The importance of the festival needs to be seen in the context of the city of Karachi, which is one the most violence ridden cities in Pakistan. Reported murders are in the region of 2,000 a year, with the real figure likely to be much higher. Here’s a look at Karachi Literature Festival, which marks its final day today (7 February). (Visitors at the 6th KLF, in 2015. Credit: Tribune) The festival launched in March 2010, entering its 7th year in 2016. The festival has been a major success, with attendance rising from 5000 people in 2010 to 10,000 in 2011, to 15,000 in 2012, to 50,000 in 2013 to 70,000 in 2014. In 2016, the KLF welcomed 100,000 people, and the numbers for 2016 thus far are equally encouraging. The numbers are all the more encouraging when we turn our attention to the recent history of Karachi, where more than 8000 people have died in the last five years in violence related to militancy, sectarian outfits and criminal gangs. In addition to militant and sectarian groups, Karachi is home to hundreds of gangs involved in organized crime. Lyari, an ancient town in Karachi, emerged as an epicentre of rival gang warfare with groups such as the Rehman Dakait Group, the Arshad Pappu Group, amongst others, operating in the area. The activities of these outfits has led to the emergence of a volatile situation, threatening stability in a city that earns 60-­‐70% of Pakistan’s national revenue. The expansion of militant groups also has political implications, with secular parties, especially the anti-­‐Taliban Awami National Party (ANP) and the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), standing the most to lose. The most worrying aspect of the operations of militant, sectarian and criminal groups is the impact on civilian life, evinced by the numbers killed in violence-­‐related incidents in the city. The Pakistani government has claimed to take cognizance of the situation in Karachi, with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif commending the Rangers and expressing a commitment to ongoing operations till peace and security are restored to the city. Other political parties and groups, including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Awami National Party (ANP), Jamaat-­‐e-­‐Islami (JI) and Jamiat Ulema-­‐e-­‐Islam (JUF-­‐F), have expressed their support for state-­‐led targeted action. However, government action has come under widespread criticism, with the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) stating that addressing the violence in the city does not appear to be a priority for the government. Analysts point to a systemic issue in Karachi: the fact that most stakeholders, including political parties, have ties to militant outfits operating in the city. The government’s dual action of targeted operations coupled with the willingness to engage in dialogue with militant groups has come under criticism as a strategy, with the government’s resolve to curb violence being questioned. In this scenario, the brave organisers -­‐-­‐ led by Ameena Saiyid and Asif Farrukhi in collaboration with Oxford University Press are working hard to change the face and reputation of Karachi. (Asif Farrukhi delivers his welcome speech at the opening ceremony of the Karachi Literature Festival, 2016 -­‐ Photo Credit: Dawn). Imagine the security nightmare posed by such a volatile situation. As an article by author Alex Preston in The Guardian notes, “There are obvious security challenges in organising a literary festival in a country where people get killed for the things they write. Only a few months before my arrival, the dean of Islamic studies at Karachi University, Shakeel Auj, was assassinated for daring to suggest in one of his books that Muslim women ought, like their men, to be able to marry outside their religion. I ask Saiyed how she keeps her authors and audiences safe. “I must pay tribute to the Karachi police,” she says. “They help us a lot and particularly they supervise these waters.” She gestures to the brackish, mangrove-­‐clogged creek. “There is an openness here which is potentially a threat, but it is all protected by boat patrols.” Saiyed also pays for a private security agency, whose guards carry absurdly large double-­‐barrelled shotguns as they patrol the festival’s walkways.” That said, the city of Karachi needs festivals like the KLF. As Hanif Kureishi in conversation with Susie Nicklin, said at the KLF in 2012: "I attend a lot of Festivals, but I have to say that this one's sense of urgency and the desire of people to speak about literature, about politics, about their country, about their country in relation to other people's countries -­‐-­‐ has been particularly urgent and necessary here. I felt a real buzz and a real excitement in this place. And if I wonder -­‐-­‐ as all writers do every day when they get up and sit at their desk -­‐-­‐ if I wonder what the hell we're doing this for, when you actually come to a festival like this and meet readers and meet other writers, you get a real sense that writing is important and that writers matter..." Susie mentioned that Hanif had travelled back to Karachi after 25 years to attend the 3rd KLF in 2012. (Karachi Literature Festival 2016 was held at Hotel Beach Luxury, Karachi, Feb 5-­‐7). http://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/OldNewsPage/?Id=6755&A/LOT/MORE/TO/THE/KARACHI/LIT/F
EST/THAN/ANUPAM/KHER Diplomacy Pakistan News U.S Consul General Once Again Sponsored KLF U.S. Consul General Brian Heath delivers opening remarks at the seventh Karachi Literature Festival (KLF). Festival founders Ameena Saiyid and Asif Farrukhi also attended. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Consulate General are proud to once again sponsor the event. KARACHI, PAKISTAN: U.S. Consul General Brian Heath delivered opening remarks on the seventh Karachi Literature festival (KLF). Festival founders Ameena Saiyid and Asif Farrukhi additionally attended. The U.S. Agency for worldwide progress (USAID) and the Consulate General are proud to as soon as again sponsor the occasion. “The Karachi Literature Festival is one of the most anticipated and important cultural events in Karachi,” said the U.S. consul general. “No other forum provides such a setting for writers, intellectuals, and artists from across Pakistan and around the world. It highlights Pakistan’s dynamic literary tradition and Karachi’s rightful place as a cultural capital,” said Mr. Heath. The U.S. Consul General pointed to USAID’s Pakistan studying program as doing so much to strengthen the motive of literacy. The 5 year, $160 million challenge targets to support the studying ability of more than 1 million children in Pakistan. Moreover, USAID and the Sindh government are partnering on the Sindh basic education Program. This $155 million program seeks to increase and preserve student enrollment in predominant, middle and secondary schools in seven districts of Northern Sindh and 5 towns of Karachi. On the festival, USAID is sponsoring a panel discussion on the role that communities and parents play in encouraging literacy and reading as good as a session on mom tongues as a medium of guide and learning. Meanwhile, U.S. Consulate General Karachi is hosting panel discussions on cultural heritage and protection, and the position of U.S. Executive exchange applications in promotion literature and the arts in Pakistan. “We realize that it is important not only to develop basic literacy, but also to support and promote talented artists and young people who continue to contribute to Pakistan’s proud literary tradition,” said the U.S. consul general. “Besides learning to read, we want participants to feel engaged with art that speaks to their experiences and aspirations.” http://www.diplomacypakistan.com/america/u-­‐s-­‐consul-­‐general-­‐once-­‐again-­‐sponsored-­‐klf/ Electronic Coverage 1.
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