KLF Day-II sessions captivate audience

The 16th Karachi Literature Festival continued to captivate literature enthusiasts, intellectuals, and book lovers

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KARACHI:

The 16th Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) continued to captivate literature enthusiasts, intellectuals, and book lovers from across the country on Saturday. This year's festival, under the theme "Narratives from the Soil," embraces the rich literary and cultural traditions of Pakistan while fostering discussions on contemporary global issues.

The festival offers an immersive experience with its elegantly decorated red-and-white tents, a refreshing sea breeze, and a vibrant atmosphere that welcomes families, friends, and avid readers. Visitors explore books, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and interact with some of the most distinguished local and international authors, scholars, and intellectuals.

Day-II of KLF 2025 continued the festival's tradition of intellectual rigour and cultural celebration, featuring an array of discussions on literature, politics, climate change, education, law, and the arts. Climate change remained a dominant theme, with Senator Sherry Rehman and educationist Ambreena Ahmed stressing the need for integrating climate education into Pakistan's curriculum. "It is only through education that we can instill a long-term framework for our nation to become resilient to this devastating change," Sherry said.

Another panel, "From Learning to Leading: Climate Education and Advocacy," brought together experts, including Afia Salam, Syeda Rinam Fatima, Athar Osama, Tabinda Jabeen, and Danish Rashdi, who explored the role of education in environmental awareness.

The festival also delved into politics and activism, with a powerful discussion between Senator Sherry Rehman and British author Victoria Schofield on "The Fragrance of Tears: My Friendship with Benazir Bhutto," reflecting on their shared experiences in political activism. Legal experts Hamid Khan and Faisal Siddiqui examined Pakistan's judicial landscape in "The Legal System of Pakistan," while another panel, "We the People: Our Constitution and the Rule of Law," featuring Raza Rabbani, Abid Zuberi, and Sara Malkani, underscored the need for legal reforms.

A particularly heartfelt session, "A Literary Bond," saw author Kamila Shamsie and her mother, literary critic Muneeza Shamsie, discuss how family narratives shape their writing. Kamila further explored historical storytelling in "Across the Decade: Discovering New Dimensions, New Histories," alongside Maniza Naqvi, Saba Karim, and Omar Shahid Hamid. The evolving landscape of publishing was addressed in "Kaghazi Mehek Roothnay Ko Hai: Kitaab Se E-Book Tak Ka Safar," where panelists debated the shift from print to digital formats.

Education reform and youth empowerment took center stage in multiple sessions. "Are We Listening to Our Youth? Redesigning Learning for Tomorrow," featured Nadeem Ghani, Faisal Mushtaq, and Myra Murad Khan discussing the urgent need for educational innovation. Public-private partnerships in education were explored in "From Emergency to Empowerment," with Shehzad Roy, Amin A Hashwani, and others highlighting solutions for bridging the education gap.