The 17th Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) opened on Friday, setting the stage for a three-day exploration of words and ideas under the timely theme “Literature in a Fragile World.” The prestigious event, organized by Oxford University Press Pakistan, began on a somber note with a moment of silence honoring victims of recent tragedies, including the Gul Plaza incident and a bomb blast in Islamabad.
A Gathering for Enlightenment and Resilience
Inaugurating the festival, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah emphasized the critical role of literature in turbulent times. “In times of global uncertainty, literature provides stability and humanity,” he stated, endorsing the festival’s theme as deeply relevant. He described literature as a stabilizing and humanizing force essential for building an enlightened society.
Literature as a “Civic Imperative”
Arshad Saeed Husain, Managing Director of Oxford University Press Pakistan, set the tone in his welcome address. He framed literature not as a mere indulgence but as a “civic imperative.” Husain highlighted the festival’s role in fostering responsible innovation and shared prosperity, stating, “Dialogue has long been the craft of this city; we convene to question and understand.”
The international significance of the festival was underscored by diplomatic representatives. Alexis Chahtahtinsky, Consul General of France, endorsed the celebration of “knowledge, culture and civilisation,” while British Deputy High Commissioner Lance Domm noted the UK’s contribution through the participation of British authors.
Addressing a “New World Disorder”
In a keynote address on the ‘New World Disorder,’ Senator Sherry Rehman delivered powerful remarks on global inequity and the vital need for inclusive discourse. “Climate conferences are expensive & excluding. If you are not on the table, you are on the menu,” she asserted. Rehman praised KLF as “the soul of Karachi” and stressed that the world is in great need of knowledge and literature.
The festival continues through the weekend, bringing together writers, thinkers, and readers to engage in crucial conversations through panel discussions, book launches, and cultural performances, reaffirming the power of the written word in a fractured global landscape.
