KARACHI: The 14th edition of the Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) organised by Oxford University Press (OUP) will be held from Feb 17 to Feb 19 at the Beach Luxury Hotel.

Speaking at a press conference here on Friday, OUP Managing Director Arshad Saeed Husain said this year’s theme for the event is ‘People, Planet and Possibilities’.

Mr Husain said the biggest challenge that Pakistan faces is around the economic situation. “We have the highest inflation levels since the 1970s and massive currency devaluation. Our theme is based on these circumstances — people, planet and possibilities. People is of course are the people of the country and their challenges, for which intellectual debates are required as to how to solve these problems. With respect to ‘planet’, we’ve seen devastating floods in Pakistan and the recent earthquake in Turkey. Apart from that, climate change all over the world is a reality that we must learn to face and tackle. We have sessions on the subject to find solutions...”

He said the festival is going to be spread over three days from Feb 17 to Feb 19.

On the first day, he said, proceedings will begin at 4pm with the inauguration ceremony, book awards, keynote speeches, a musical performance and a panel discussion. On Feb 18 and 19, the sessions will be on from 11am to 8.30pm.

More than 200 speakers will participate in over 60 sessions during thethree-day event

“More than 200 speakers are participating in the festival, including literary figures, educationists and scholars. We are fortunate that we have two Booker prize winners — Damon Galgut from South Africa and Sri Lanka’s Shehan Karunatilaka. Eight countries are being represented which includes Pakistan, the UK, the US, Canada, France, Germany, Australia and South Africa.

“There are more than 60 sessions in six languages — Urdu, English, Sindhi, Punjabi, Balochi and Pashto. Then there are 24 book launches and book talks. The keynote speakers are Sherry Rehman, Noor Ul Huda Shah, Ahmed Rashid and Shehan Karunatilaka. Literary prizes will also be given,” he said.

Highlighting the key features of the festival, Mr Husain mentioned panel discussions, dramatic readings, a mushaira, an English poetry recital, film screenings and an art exhibition.

Eminent writer and critic Muneeza Shamsie said, “I’m so looking forwards to the 14th Karachi Literature Festival. It’s very good to have it back in full form. Literature plays such an important role in opening up new discussions. What I love most about literature is that it touches upon the unspoken or the things that we haven’t thought about — it makes you think about them.

“The other thing that I appreciate is that KLF acknowledges literary excellence of writers. We are all particularly thrilled that the speakers [this year] include two Booker prize winners, both I greatly admire and look forward to hearing them discuss their work. One is from South Africa and the other from Sri Lanka, but their work has a kind of universalism,” she added.

The representatives of KLF sponsors and a few guest speakers who were sitting alongside Mr Husain also spoke.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2023