Home to some of the world’s most prolific writers, Pakistan now faces a literary crisis. Once inhabited by legends like Ghalib, Jaun Elia, Patras Bukhari, bookshelves now lay bare in a drought, dust filling the empty spaces.
The rise of anti-intellectualism has been a hot topic recently, and for good reason. In Pakistan, we can see the effects of it through our digital addiction and lack of appreciation for the written works. Children no longer read storybooks, students no longer require textbooks owing to ChatGPT, and adults find the convenience of a smartphone inescapable. All these factors leave us uninspired and devoid of hope.
Pakistani literature is part of the dying culture of art. No one discusses Faiz or Iqbal anymore, or even the daily newspaper. What need is there when we can just share a Tiktok video instead? But that is the problem. We must, as a nation, save our arts and history. They are a part of our culture and identity, and we must use them to shape our future just as they have shaped our past.
Syeda Amal Fatima
Lahor
