Mehfil-e-Sukhan celebrates Urdu poetry

ISLAMABAD:

The fifth edition of Mehfil-e-Sukhan brought together some of Pakistan's most distinguished poets for an evening of Urdu poetry in the federal capital on Saturday.

Presided over by Abbas Naqvi and Shakeel Jazaib, the annual mushaira featured prominent poets, including Kishwar Naheed, Iftikhar Arif, Anwar Shaoor, Abbas Tabish, Izharul Haq, Hamid Ateeq Sarwar, Haris Khaleeq, Ahmed Salman, Wasi Shah, Adnan Baig, Shakeel Jazib, Ashfaq Nasir, Saima Aftab, Rehman Faris, Zarnigar Abbas and Saba Uddin Hunzai.

Their readings, spanning classical and contemporary Urdu poetry, highlighted the richness of the language and its enduring ability to connect people across generations and backgrounds.

Organised under Serena's Cultural Diplomacy Initiative, the fifth edition continued a literary tradition that began in 2022 and has since become a regular feature of Islamabad's cultural calendar.

"Poetry has always been a meeting place. For five years, Mehfil-e-Sukhan has opened Serena's doors to the poets who give voice to Pakistan, and to the audiences, from Pakistan and beyond, who come to listen. At its heart, cultural diplomacy is simply that: an invitation to sit together and share in something enduring," said Aziz Boolani, Global CEO of Serena Hotels.

The initiative is part of wider efforts to promote literature and the arts in Pakistan, including support for the Lahore Literary Festival and the Quetta Literary Festival, which provide platforms for writers, poets and thinkers to engage with wider audiences.

The event also underscored the importance of preserving Pakistan's diverse literary heritage and providing opportunities for established and emerging voices to share their work.