Faiz's vision of hope, justice celebrated

Candid discussions cover literature, culture, heritage

LAHORE:

The final day of the 10th Faiz Festival embodied poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz's timeless vision of hope, resistance and human dignity.

A series of sessions scheduled simultaneously included a book launch bringing together writer Harris Khalique, Samina Rehman and Salima Hashmi in a literary exchange and another launch featuring Khawaja Saad Rafique, Sohail Warraich, Wajahat Masood, Fawad Hassan Fawad and Hammad Ghaznavi.

In a session on Faiz and the Cultural Policy of Pakistan, Asad Gillani, Mehtab Akbar Rashdi, and Kabir Altaf examined the poet's ideological and cultural influence. At Adbi Baithak, Ijazul Hassan's poems were discussed by Shaista Sonnu Sirajuddin, Asghar Nadeem Syed and Zubair Ahmad who offered deep reflections on poetic aesthetics. Another hall featured Zehra Nigah in conversation with Nasir Abbas Nayyar regarding classical and contemporary verse.

The launch of Secrets: Stories of Psychiatry from America and Pakistan featured Ali Madeeh Hashmi, Dr Asghar Naqi and Dr Ainul Momina in conversation. The book launch of Who Knows the Bound of Desire, with Osama Siddique and Dr Faisal Bari presented a thoughtful exchange. Poet Iftikhar Arif, Zehra Nigah and Qasim Jafri shared insights in a session

Concluding the festival, Lahore Arts Council Executive Director Muhammad Nawaz Gondal stated that the extraordinary participation and depth of discourse over the three days had reaffirmed that Faiz's vision continues to illuminate cultural consciousness.