Karachi Literature Festival concludes with debates, book launches and cultural performances

KARACHI: The 17th Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) came to a vibrant close on its third and final day, celebrating literature, culture, education and public discourse through a wide range of sessions and performances.

From early morning debates to an evening qawwali, the festival reaffirmed its role as one of Pakistan’s most inclusive and dynamic intellectual platforms.

The day began with an inter-school debate on “Literature Today: Elitist or Essential?”, featuring KGS, Lyceum and Cedar College, with KGS emerging as the winner. Dramatic readings by Yousuf Bashir Qureshi, Ali Mazhar and Usman Qureshi added to the literary energy of the event.

Literature sessions highlighted both classic and emerging writers, with discussions ranging from Jane Austen to contemporary challenges such as women and children’s health amid climate change, shifting power dynamics in South Asia, policing and civic accountability in Karachi, and the future of higher education.

Physicist and author Pervez Hoodbhoy stressed the importance of academic freedom, saying universities should enrich young minds rather than enforce “mind control.”

Throughout the three-day festival, book launches and author talks attracted strong interest. Notable highlights included Rebel English Academy by Mohammed Hanif, Umar Mujhay Likhti Hai by Kishwar Naheed, Pakistan Cricket Chronicles 1948-2024, along with new translations and poetry collections reflecting Pakistan’s cultural and linguistic diversity.

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Sessions such as “Future Shock: Dystopia in a Dystopian World” and “Karachi Between the Lines” offered fresh perspectives on global and local literary traditions.

The Youth Pavilion remained a hub of activity, hosting storytelling, writing and calligraphy workshops, theatre, dance, music and discussions aimed at nurturing creativity and critical thinking among young participants.

Culture and public-interest sessions expanded the festival’s scope, covering Pakistani television drama, media in a changing world, artificial intelligence, and the role of museums and curation. Film screenings, music performances and interactive debates, including “Will AI Take Over?”, drew enthusiastic participation.

Salma Alam, CEO of Durbeen, highlighted plans to scale up teachers’ skills through public-private partnerships, while banker Zafar Masud spoke about survival and life priorities during a session on hope and resilience.

The Karachi Literature Festival concluded with a closing ceremony in the Main Garden, where acclaimed writer Mohammed Hanif delivered a keynote address on literature’s enduring power to question and imagine. The event ended on a resonant note with a qawwali performance by Hamza Akram Qawwal & Brothers, bringing the 17th Karachi Literature Festival to an uplifting close.