Islamabad’s 5th Literature Festival started on Friday, 14th April 2017 in Islamabad at a local hotel. The festival featured a line-up of around 150 leading Pakistani and international authors, academics, journalists and artists along with exhibitions, book fair and a sumptuous food court.  The three day festival was organized by Oxford University Press (OUP).

Islamabad Literature Festival

Islamabad Literature Festival

Islamabad Literature Festival

The inaugural session was attended by the leading journalists, writers, poets, intellectuals and a large number of visitors. Addressing the inaugural session, OUP MD Ameena Saiyid said “Our goal is to make reading a pleasurable activity for young and old, men and women. We are aware that engaging and appealing books can entice children into the golden web of readership, promote creativity and imagination, and kindle hope for a more inspired and accomplished Pakistani generation in the future. This year popular personalities of 8 countries including Germany, France, Canada, Singapore and Italy will participate”, she said, adding ‘that this year we are celebrating 70 years of Pakistan at the 5th Islamabad Literature Festival.’

Islamabad Literature Festival

On first day of the festival, many sessions were held on interesting topics. Judiciary and the common man had Ashraf Jahangir Qazi, Afrasiab Khattak, and Bushra Gohar while the session was moderated by Mujahid Barelvi; a conversation between Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro and Elisa Iori was held on heritage and social mobilization in post-conflict reality; Prison Narratives, a book by Akhtar Baloch held the complete attention of the audience.  Renowned writer Mohammad Hanif discussed the burden of a translator for searching appropriate words while writing.

On the second day of ILF, Fasi Zaka moderated a session “Preparing the Citizens of Tomorrow:  Are we Succeeding or Failing?” The session had participants like educationist Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Nadia Naviwala, Shahid Siddiqui, and Ishrat Husain. Reema Abbasi moderated a session Lost Heritage: The Sikh Legacy in Pakistan, a nostalgic search for historic monuments and temples eroded by time which included the author Amardeep Singh and columnist F.S. Aijazuddin.

To discuss the core issue of water, a special session titled “Where has all the Water gone? was well attended. Experts and concerned citizens Nisar A. Memon, Kaiser Bengali, and Aaron Mulvany debated the water crisis in Pakistan which was moderated by Rina Saeed Khan”. A Performance by Nimra Bucha and Sarmad Khoosat on readings from Amrita Pritam and Sahir Ludhianvi’s poetry focusing on their unique vision and elusive, unspoken romance was also featured on the second day of ILF.

“Gender Violence, Law, and Power in Pakistan focusing on feminists’ struggle for justice and equal rights” was held in which Nafisa Shah, Sherry Rehman, and Ijaz Shafi Gilani participated with moderator Samar Minallah Khan. ‘Rail Kahaani’ presented by Zambeel Dramatic Readings was based on short stories of railway journeys written by different authors. These were presented by Shama Askari, Asma Mundrawala, Saife Hasan, and Fawad Khan.

Islamabad Literature Festival - Sherry Rehman in the session

Islamabad Literature Festival

Other sessions on Day 2 included Mohabbat aur Dehshat Gardi: Aaj ka Urdu Adab, Women and Excluded Groups in Political Parties and Legislative Bodies and English Poetry Session: The International Muse. Several new books were also launched on the second day. On the eve of the second day, ILF hosted an amazing Mushaira (poetry recitation) which had poets from the twin cities and other parts of Pakistan.

The last day of ILF was dominated by renowned artist Anwer Maqsood as he had a session “Uljhay Suljhay Anwar which included the author his wife Imrana Maqsood, Hoori Noorani and Sarmad Khoosat. A house-full at the session presented a huge tribute to the living legend.

Islamabad Literature Festival - Anwar Maqsood in the Uljhay Suljhay Session

Islamabad Literature Festival - Full-House Uljhay Suljhay Session

President Azad Kashmir Sardar Mohammad Masood Khan participated in the session Kashmir: Two Sides to a Question The future of a dispute: Is a solution possible? Other sessions held on day 3 included Murder between the covers, New strategies for creativity and change, 70 Years of Pakistan: A Reflection on Pakistan’s History, Will Technology Influence Music? and Small Screen Intimacy and Big Screen Splendour.

On the ever popular Dastangoi based on Ismat Aapa aur Unki Kahanian from Ismat Chughtai's Kaghazi hai Pairahan and her short stories ‘Chirri ki Dukki’ and ‘Amar Bail’ had the audience fighting for space. A one-man mushaira conducted by Syed Nusrat Ali, an unassuming management consultant and motivational speaker who stole the show on the final day of ILF.

Islamabad Literature Festival

The key note speakers at the closing ceremony of the fifth Islamabad Literature Festival included famous poet Iftikhar Arif, Omar Shahid Hamid and Nafisa Shah.  The concluding address was delivered by Oxford University Press MD and founder of ILF Ameena Saiyid and Co-founder Dr. Asif Farrukhi. The closing ceremony of ILF was followed by an enthralling dance performance by Shayma Saiyid.

Islamabad Literature Festival

Book Stalls at Islamabad Literature Festival

Food Court at Islamabad Literature Festival

On all three days, there were a large number of books stalls with interesting books of all genres for all book lovers. The food court at Islamabad Food Festival had a variety of scrumptious food. The increasing number of participants in all halls, in the corridors and food-court is testimony to the fact that the ILF is a popular event now.