KLF is back again with the urge to delight the crave of avid readers, to enrich the enriched history of literature for its appreciators. KLF can be viewed as a little token of appreciation from the individuals of the society to those who offered a perspective on the unique Pakistani society and culture, and have thus contributed to the development of a thriving literary tradition in Pakistan.
Around 136 Pakistani and 40 international authors and speakers from ten countries are participating in the festival. Mustansar Hussain Tarar and Ayesha Jalal were the keynote speakersat the inauguration. Among the many literary luminaries, academics, and intellectuals participating, both from Pakistan and abroad, some of the notable names are Adeel Hashmi, Afzal Ahmed Syed, Ali Akbar Natiq, Amar Jaleel, Ahmed Rashid, ArfaSayedaZehra, Arif Hasan, Asif Noorani, Arshad Mahmud, Ashraf JehangirQazi, AttiyaDawood, Ayesha Tammy Haq, Bina Shah, Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, Christina Oesterheld, FahmidaRiaz, H.M. Naqvi, Hamid Khan, Harris Khalique, ImdadHussaini, Jamsheed Marker, KishwarNaheed, Mahtab Akbar Rashdi, Masood Ashar, Mian Raza Rabbani, Mirza Waheed, MujahidBarelvi, Nadeem F. Paracha, Nafisa Shah, Najmuddin Shaikh, Nasira Iqbal, Noor ul Huda Shah, Omar Shahid Hamid, Pervez Hoodbhoy, Roger Long, SabynJaveri, Salima Hashmi, Sania Saeed, Shabnam, Shazia Omar, SheemaKermani, ShandanaMinhas, ShrabaniBasu, Taimur Rahman, Tina Sani, Zafar Hilaly, Victoria Schofield, ZehraNigah, Zia Mohyeddin, and Zoe Viccaji. The KLF-Pepsi Non-Fiction Prize of Rs 300,000 was won by The Raj at War by Yasmin Khan. The Getz Pharma Fiction Prize of Rs 300,000 was awarded to The Spinner’s Tale by Omar Shahid Hamid. KLF Peace Prize, which is a joint project of Consulate General of Germany in Karachi and KLF, of 3000 euros was given to The Footprints of Partition by AnamZakaria, and KLF-Infaq Foundation Urdu Literature Prize of Rs 200,000 was awarded to Urdu AdabkiTashkeel e Jadeed by Nasir Abbas Nayyar for the best book of prose or poetry in Urdu. “KLF is not merely a local affair. With participants and visitors from all over the country, from all four provinces and all of our major cities, this is truly an all-Pakistan event. More so, with participants from India, UK, USA, Germany, Italy, Bangladesh, and Maldives, it is truly an international event,” said Asif Farrukhi, Co-founder of the Karachi Literature Festival. This year Pepsi Cois the title sponsor of the event. Sponsorship is also provided by United Bank Limited (UBL); Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Karachi; U.S. Consulate General, Karachi; Manchester Literature Festival; British Council; Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES); DAI Awaaz; Tapal; Engro Foods (Omore); Infaq Foundation; Getz Pharma; British Deputy High Commission (BDHC); Consulate General of Switzerland, Karachi; American Institute of Pakistan Studies; Consulate of Italy, Karachi; Indian Council for Cultural Relations;nEmbassy of France in Pakistan; Emirates; Tehzeeb Foundationand Goethe Institute.
There are 18 book launches and more than 70 sessions. A vibrant programme, encapsulating talks, panel discussions, readings, book launches, English and Urdu mushaira, stand-up comedy, author signings, performing arts, art exhibition, film screenings, art strand, book fair, literary awards, and a food court, has been lined up for the festival.
Karachi(Cliff News) “The KLF is held to celebrate the rich, ancient, and diverse cultures and literatures of Pakistan so that they flourish and bloom and make an impact by becoming accessible to a wider public,” said AmeenaSaiyid OBE, Managing Director, Oxford University Press (OUP), and Founder/Director, Karachi Literature Festival, and Co-founder, Children’s Literature Festival at the inauguration ceremony of the 8th Karachi Literature Festival at Beach Luxury Hotel, today. “KLF creates spaces where cultural and intellectual energies gain release, and knowledge and understanding, both about today’s world, ourselves, and our history and civilization, are not only disseminated but also questioned and debated critically. We are also taking the Karachi Literature Festival to London where it will be held at the Southbank Centre on 20 May 2017, to celebrate Pakistan’s culture and literature and the 70th anniversary of its creation,” she added.