KARACHI: “The literature of Sindh, the music of Sindh, the research coming out of Sindh ... all in all, the culture of Sindh ... all are also like weapons firing arrows of love,” said Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.

He was speaking at the three-day 6th edition of the Sindh Literature Festival, which opened at the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi on Friday.

“Sindh has given birth to so many Sufis and poets who spread the message of love. The intellectuals and scholars of our times, too, carry forward their work. I have always looked to our intellectuals and scholars for guidance. My leader, the late former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto also carried great understanding. She used to tell us to work for all people. It didn’t matter whether they are or are not your voters,” he said.

Speaking about the seventh population census, the chief minister said: “There is a digital population census happening now for which you can enter yours and the details of your family members to the Bureau of Statistics website.”

“You can also help those who are not computer literate by entering their details. In 2017, the census carried out in Sindh was all wrong. There are far more people here than were counted so do make sure that you do your bit this time to show the correct numbers,” he added.

Mushahid Hussain says Sindh is warm, welcoming and inclusive

Education, Culture and Tourism Minister Sardar Ali Shah also spoke on the occasion and said that he loved Sindh and its culture.

Writer and poet Noor Ul Huda Shah stressed on reading Sindh’s poets to understand Sindh. “The writings of Joyo, Palijo and Shaikh Ayaz also teach us about revolution and the Sufi saints’ words have spread the message of love,” she said.

“I also carry great respect for people like Abdul Hameed Akhund, who have contributed so much to Sindh’s culture by making it known abroad. Artists like singer Abida Parveen and late Allan Fakir were and are our culture ambassadors. Our Sindhi cap and our Ajrak are also our ambassadors,” she said.

The keynote speaker, Naseer Memon, meanwhile, spoke about climate change. “The scale of disaster from the floods is massive and the danger is still looming over our heads,” he said.

“Most homes in rural Sindh are mud houses or they are mere huts made of sticks. Rebuilding the same kind of structures without any planning means that we will lose them again,” he pointed out.

“And what to talk of rural Sindh, when even urban Sindh is not secure. Sindh, which produces 70 per cent of the county’s gas, is without it. We use wood or cylinders for cooking our food. Sindh needs demographic re-engineering.

“Also, some 90 per cent of people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are Pakhtoon, over 80 per cent of people in Punjab are Punjabi and only around 10 per cent of the people in Sindh are Sindhi. Sindhis are turning into a minority in Sindh. So kindly take the census seriously,” he also echoed the chief minister’s message.

Speaking on the occasion, Senator Mushaid Hussain Syed said that Sindh is bighearted. “It is warm and welcoming and inclusive. The Leftist movement, the democratic movement ... all have their roots in Sindh.

Journalist Saleem Safi said that Sindh’s rich culture and heritage should have turned Sindhis into very proud people, which has not happened. “They are instead humble people with open minds and big hearts. They have themselves given space to Pakhtuns, Punjabis, Baloch and Urdu-speaking people in Karachi. That’s how Karachi is a mini Pakistan,” he said.

Director General Culture Munnawar Ali Mahesar, Shams ul Haq Memon of Endowment Trust Fund and Arts Council of Pakistan President Ahmed Shah also spoke.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2023