Islamabad: The Islamabad Literature Festival (ILF) is set to begin from November 3 to 5, 2023, in Islamabad, announced by Oxford University Press (OUP) on Monday.
It would be the 9th Edition of the three-day literary extravaganza and would be kicked off at the Gandhara Citizen Club F-9 Park in the federal capital.
The festival, having the theme of ‘People, Planet, Possibilities,’ would include book-launching ceremonies, engaging conversations, exhibitions, and film screenings.
The first day of the event would be open to the public. The event would be graced by keynote speeches from Jane Marriott, High Commissioner of the United Kingdom, Arshad Saeed Husain, Managing Director OUP, and others. The event also includes keynotes by the notable British author, biographer, and historian Victoria Schofield and the eminent Urdu poet Hilal-e-Imtiaz, Sitara-e-Imtiaz, and Presidential Pride of Performance, Iftikhar Arif.
The festival also included a grand Mushaira to be presided over by Iftikhar Arif, followed by a Ghazal Night with the maestro Ustad Hamid Ali Khan on the second and third evenings, respectively.
Speakers at Islamabad Literature Festival
The festival included a number of events with literary discussions and speeches from different academicians, thinkers, and artists. They include Dr. Ishrat Husain, Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, Muhammad Azfar Ahsan, Saquib Ahmad, Mohammad Aurangzeb, Dr. Farzana Bari, Kishwar Naheed, Dr. Najeeba Arif, Nasir Abbas Nayyar, Nasira Zuberi, Omar Shahid Hamid, Muneeza Shamsie, Harris Khalique, Hamid Khan, Zahid Hussain, Hamid Mir, Asma Shirazi, Nasim Zehra, Dr. Aisha Ghaus Pasha, Asghar Nadeem Syed, Khaled Anam, Sarmad Khoosat, and Beo Zafar.
The diversity of their views and reviews would enrich the different sessions and would explore an array of captivating topics, from the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Contemporary Literature, Evolution in Education, Endangered Languages, Role of Women in Publishing, Changing Business Dynamics, Foreign Policy, etc.
An introduction to the UK’s leading Examination Board’ OxfordAQA’ is also part of the event. OxfordAQA is well known worldwide for its reputation for academic excellence and alignment with the UK education system and will soon be available in Pakistan as a significant option for examinations.
Managing Director OUP, Arshad Saeed Husain, shared his excitement at seeing literature festivals gaining such traction, adding that ILF and KLF have both become a rich resource for restoring the ethical and cultural perspectives in our society by broadening horizons and instilling deep faith in our own identity as an equal and formidable part of the global culture.
The 9th Edition of ILF is being held in collaboration with CDA, Getz Pharma Pakistan, British Council, Kaizen Paint Pvt Ltd, and other supporters.
