Two-day Hyd Literary Festival opens on Sufi note
Students perform a theatrical adaption of Sur Marvi, a folk tale about a powerful ruler and a peasant woman penned by Sufi Saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai. PHOTO: APP
The 11th two-day Hyderabad Literary Festival commenced on Sunday, with Sindh Culture Minister Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah reaffirming that Sindh has always conveyed a message of peace and love and will continue to do so.
According to details, the Hyderabad Literary Festival 2026 was inaugurated at a hotel located on the Hyderabad Bypass by the provincial culture minister, along with Secretary Culture Munawar Mahesar, IBA Sukkur Vice Chancellor Dr Asif Sheikh, Hyderabad Commissioner Fayaz Hussain Abbasi and others.
The festival features stalls showcasing cultural artefacts and books, while several sessions have been scheduled in which renowned researchers, writers and intellectuals are participating.
Shah said Sindh is the land of Sufis with a history spanning over 5,000 years. It has always promoted peace and will continue to do so.
Addressing the ceremony, Hyderabad Commissioner Fayaz Hussain Abbasi thanked the culture minister for declaring the traditional musical instrument borindo, discovered from Mohenjo Darro, as heritage. At the session "Sahafat Ka Aangan Tera", senior journalist Mazhar Abbas criticized the younger generation's tilt towards sensationalism over serious issues, noting the absence of talk shows on water and health and the rise of conflict-driven content. He identified misinformation and disinformation as Pakistan's biggest challenges, stressing that while news itself isn't false, information is often distorted.
Journalist Absa Komal highlighted the growing dominance of digital media as youth move away from newspapers. She called for strengthening professional journalism, warning that social media is already beyond control and raising concerns about the consequences if television also loses balance. At the festival, Zafar Masud, the sole survivor of the Karachi plane crash, spoke about his book Seat 1C. He said after surviving the crash, the first person he called was his father, adding that he believed he survived due to his parents' prayers.