M. M. ALAM

KARACHI: Founder of Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) & Managing Director Oxford University Press Ameena Saiyid has informed media here that the 3-day 8th KLF will commence on Friday 10th of February 5PM at Beach Luxury Hotel.
Ayesha Jalal and Mustansar Hussain Tarar will be the keynote speakers at the opening ceremony.
She told that since 2017 is being celebrated as the 70th anniversary of the creation of Pakistan, many of the scheduled sessions will focus on the theme of Partition.
Biographer of Liaquat Ali Khan Roger Long will also be part of one such session along with Akbar Liaquat.
146 Pakistani and 40 foreign speakers from 10 countries will participate in 8th KLF which will have features like 18 book launches, Urdu and English Muahairas, dance and Sindhi musical programs.
Shabnam and Nadeem are also scheduled to be part of an event named Phool aur Shabnam.
Bobby Sager and Mohammad Hanif will be delivering keynote speeches at the closing ceremony.
Commenting on its steady growth she said that the attendance grew from 5000 in 2010 to 175000 last year. While only 52 authors and speakers participated the 1st KLF, 178 authors and speakers attended in 7th KLF.
Co-founder of KLF Dr. Asif Farrukhi noted that Karachi has become the mother of literary festivals and there should be more in order to contain conflicts in the society.Consul General Rainer Schmiedchen told that German Consulate and Goethe Institut were sponsoring one of the five literary prizes that will be given during the festival.