QUETTA: Enthusiastic audiences showed up in large numbers as the two-day Pakistan Literature Festival (PLF) Balochistan started here on Wednesday with renowned figures sharing their views on different topics.

Balochistan Assembly Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai inaugurated the festival during an impressive ceremony held at the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences. The festival has been organised by the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi (ACPK) with the collaboration of BUITEMS.

ACPK president Muhammad Ahmed Shah presented the welcome address. Sindh Minister for Culture Zulfiqar Ali Shah and BUITEMS Vice Chancellor Khalid Hafeez Siddique were present on the occasion.

Along with cultural stalls, bookstalls attracted visitors who were seen taking interest in their favourite books.

Anwar Maqsood’s veiled reference to missing persons’ issue amuses many

A session, themed Khushhal Balochistan: Mustehkam Pakistan, was held at the Arfa Kareem Randhawa Expo Centre. Fawad Ahmed Fawad, senior journalist Saleem Safi, Shamsuddin Ahmed Sheikh, and Dr Hafeez Jamali discussed the topic during the session which was moderated by senior Quetta-based journalist Shahzada Zulfiqar.

Mr Safi emphasised that Gwadar and Gilgit-Baltistan hold significant rights on the CPEC, urging the federation to take concrete steps to enhance the life standard and socioeconomic conditions of Balochistan’s people and their dignity.

Mr Fawad highlighted the bureaucratic hurdles hindering the progress of smaller provinces.

Dr Jamali urged systemic reforms for Balochistan’s development, emphasising improvements in education and health sectors.

Shamsuddin Sheikh noted Balochistan’s abundance of natural resources, urging more efficient utilisation while considering security concerns.

One session, titled Mehargarh: historical and cultural heritage of Balochistan, was moderated by Naveed Marwat. The panellists included Haji Lashkari Raisani, Kaleemullah Lashari, Asma Ibrahim, and Farooq Baloch.

Lashkari Raisani stressed that the old civilisation needs to be preserved.

Senior journalist Mazhar Abbas while participating in one of the sessions recalled the days when Balochistan had political leaders like

Mir Ghous Bakhsh Bizenjo, saying he had rendered numerous services for Balochistan.

The session featuring scriptwriter and TV host Anwar Maqsood and actress Mahira Khan attracted a large crowd.

In response to a question, Anwar Maqsood while referring to missing persons said, “I miss Balochistan Ka Khoya.”

The participants were surprised at the reply as Balochistan doesn’t produce Khoya, but many understood the fine way in which the satirist had commented on the issue.

Former chief minister Dr Malik Baloch, ex-senator Sana Baloch, Abdul Rahim

Ziaratwal, Mir Shoaib Nosherwani, provincial minister Mir Zahoor Buledi and spokesman for the Balochistan government, Shahid Rand, talked about various issues of Balochistan and highlighted the causes for the backwardness of the province.

Dr Malik held bad governance, corruption and ignorance by federation responsible for the poor situation of Balochistan.

Sana Baloch lamented that there was no implementation of the Constitution which safeguards the people’s rights.

Mr Ziaratwal said Balochistan’s problems cannot be resolved until the province was recognised as the “real unit of the federation”.

Mr Nosherwani was critical of previous governments, saying that despite the passage of 18th Amendment they had not devolved resources to lower levels and denied funds to local governments.

Zahoor Buledi asked those talking about the issues of Balochistan why they had not resolved these problems as they themselves remained part of diffident governments in the past.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2024