Sustainability:

Words changing Mindsets

Bringing together international and
Pakistani writers to promote reading
and showcase writing at its best

16, 17, and 18 February 2024

Beach Luxury Hotel, Karachi

co-sponsors

#KhiLF

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 AUTHORS/MODERATORS/SPEAKERS

About the 15th Karachi Literature Festival

The three-day Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) will be held from 16th to 18th Aamir Jafarey Bilal Hassan Khalid Mahmood
February at the Beach Luxury Hotel.
Abid Aziz Merchant Bina Shah Kishwar Naheed
In keeping with our tradition of exploring the major trends of the times, Adeel Hashmi   Christie Marie Lauder Maheen Rahman
the Theme of this year’s KLF is Sustainability: Words changing Mindsets. Adnan Rizvi Claire Chambers Mahnaz Naveed Shah
Discussants will throw light on the critical issues of the day that face this city,
Afia Salam Faisal Bari Makham Khattak
this country, and this world and seek ways forward. It is not intended to dwell
Afzal Ahmed Syed Faisal Siddiqi Makhdoom Ali Khan
on disorder, violence, and calamities, but to understand them and seek durable
remedies. And, of course, there will be sessions on the developments and Ahmad Atta Farid Panjwani Maleeha Lodhi
trends in Pakistani and world literature, in the media and the world of entertainment, in education Ahmed Ali Butt Farida Faizullah Maniza Naqvi
and scholarship, in the life of the mind and in daily life. Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry Farrukh Iqbal Manjula Kumar
As always, KLF 2024, like the ones before, aims to encourage thought-provoking discussions Ali Habib Faryal Mehmood   Martin Axmann  
providing an environment of openness, pluralism, and intellectual discourse. Ali Rohila Faysal Chaudary Masood Lohar
There will be over 76 sessions, including 25 book launches with a mix of both Urdu and English. Ali Usman Qasmi Fazil Jamili Mazhar Abbas
All sessions will be broadcast live around the world on OUP’s social media channels. Visitors and Aliya Iqbal-Naqvi Fouzia Khan Michael Cirelli  
the online audience will also have the chance to enjoy Poetry readings, feature films, and a series Amar Pirzado   Fozia Parveen Miftah Ismail
of short independent film screenings. KLF also celebrates the diversity of languages and cultures Ambareen Haseeb Amber Ghazi Salahuddin Minaa Shahzad
across the country by highlighting writings in Sindhi, Balochi, Punjab, and Pashto languages. Amber Rahim Shamsi Hameed Shahid Moeen Faruqi
A total of 7 literary awards for Pakistani authors will be announced at the opening ceremony.
Amir Zia Harris Khalique Mohammad Ali
These awards are supported by Getz Pharma Pvt. Ltd. and the Little Book Company.
Amtul Baweja Hasan Manzar Mohsin Hamid
We are excited to once again bring together a diverse group of writers, thinkers, and literary
Andrew Coombe Hasan Zaidi Moneeza Hashmi
enthusiasts from Pakistan and around the world to share their stories, ideas, and perspectives.
Anjum Halai Hasnain Kazim Moosa Gardezi
This Festival is a testament to the power of the written word and the vital role it plays in shaping
our communities. Anoushey Ashraf Haya Sehgal Mubeen Mirza
The organizers of the 15th KLF are excited to welcome visitors and look forward to the stimulating Ansar Burney   Hoori Noorani Muhammad Aurangzeb
days of enlightening experience and memorable moments. As before, KLF also looks forward to Anwar Sajidi Huma Baqai Muhammad Azfar Ahsan
the promise of Tomorrow. It seeks to explore new writings, new trends, and new technologies, and Anwar Shaoor Huma Ghaffar Mujahid Barelvi
provide a platform for emerging authors and writers. Anwer Sen Roy Iftikhar Arif Mukhtar Husain
See you at Beach Luxury Hotel on the 16th, 17th, and 18th of February. No need to register… just Aqeel Abbas Jaffri Iftikhar Salahuddin Mumtaz Bukhari
turn up! Arif Hasan Ikram Sehgal Muneeza Shamsie
Over the years, the guest speakers have been outstanding, including, but not limited to, keynote Arshad Mahmud Imran Saqib Murtaza Chaudary
speakers of the status of: Arshad Saeed Husain Imran Yousuf Murtaza Wahab
Late Shamsur Rahman Faruqi, Karen Armstrong, William Dalrymple, Intizar Husain, Nadeem Aslam, Asad Umar Inaam Nadeem Muslim Rizvi
Kamila Shamsie, Rajmohan Gandhi, Raza Ali Abidi, Nayantara Sahgal, Zehra Nigah, Late Fahmida Riaz, Asghar Nadeem Syed Ishrat Husain Mustafa Chaudary
Pervez Hoodbhoy, Arfa Sayeda Zehra, Ziauddin Sardar, Mustansar Hussain Tarar, Ayesha Jalal, Ashfaq Hussain Jehan Ara Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar
Bobby Sager, Mohammed Hanif, Francis Robinson, Noorul Huda Shah, Anwar Maqsood, Ashraf Shad Jibran Jamshad   Naazir Mahmood
Amit Chaudhuri, Mani Shankar Aiyar, Deborah Baker, Late I.A. Rehman, Ishrat Husain, Asma Hyder Jibran Nasir Nadeem Farooq Paracha
Muneeza Shamsie, Zaheda Hina, Ahdaf Soueif, Harris Khalique, Late Zia Mohyeddin, Victoria
Asma Shirazi Joseph Massad Nadia Naqi
Schofield, Hanif Kureshi, Sardar Masood Khan, Dr. Arif Alvi, President of Pakistan, Sherry Rehman,
Atif Badar Junaid Zuberi Nadya Chishty-Mujahid  
Shehan Karunatilaka, and Ahmed Rashid.
Attiya Dawood Kaiser Bengali Najeeba Arif  
Aysha Baqir Kamran Moin Anwar Name
Azra Abbas Kashif Khan Naseem Salahuddin
Baela Raza Jamil Kazi Akber Nasir Abbas Nayyar
Bari Mian Kenizé Mourad Nasira Zuberi
Bee Gul Khadija Bakhtiar Nauman Naqvi
Bi Bi Ameena Khaled Anam Nausheen Ahmad
 Inauguration of the
15th Karachi Literature Festival
Friday 16 February 2024 4.00 p.m.
AUTHORS/MODERATORS/SPEAKERS Main Garden, Beach Luxury Hotel, Karachi

Nazia Ejaz Khan Sanayya Saleem Syed Jaffar Ahmed

4.00 p.m. Arrival of Guests
Nida Wahid Sanjay Rajoura   Syed Jawaid Iqbal
Nigar Alam Sarwat Zehra Syed Kaleem Imam 4.30 p.m. Welcome Speech by the Festival Organizer:
Noman Ahmed Sehrish Farooq Syed Kashif Raza Arshad Saeed Husain, Managing Director, OUP Pakistan
Nomanul Haq Selma Dabbagh Syed Nusrat Ali
4.45 p.m. Remarks by the Guest of Honours:
Noorul Huda Shah Shaha Tariq   Syed Salim Raza Conrad Tribble, US Consul General, Karachi
Nusrat Khawaja Shahab Usto Syed Shabbar Zaidi Dr. Rüdiger Lotz, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany , Karachi
Omar Shahid Hamid Shaheen Salahuddin Taha Kehar Alexis Chahtahtinsky, Consul General of France, Karachi
Osamah Nasir Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Tahir Mandokhail Martin Dawson, Head of Mission, British Deputy High Commission, Karachi
Peerzada Salman Shahid Siddiqui Tanveer Anjum
5.10 p.m. Remarks by Sponsor:
Qaisar Khan Afridi Shahnaz Wazir Ali Tanzim-ul-Firdous Ali Habib, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, HBL
Qawwal Najmuddin Shahzeb Jillani Tariq Alexander Qaiser
Rafaqat Hayat Shaiq Usmani Tasneem Premjee Chamdia   5.30 p.m. Keynote Speeches by:
Rafay Mahmood Shamshad Akhtar Waheed Noor Arif Hasan, architect, planner, activist, social researcher, and writer
Rumana Husain Sharif Awan Wajid Jawad Selma Dabbagh, British-Palestinian writer and lawyer
S. Akbar Zaidi Shazia Hasan Wasif Rizvi 6.10 p.m. Book Awards:
Saba Karim Khan Shehar Bano Rizvi   Wayne Press KLF-Getz Pharma English Fiction Prize Award
Safinah Danish Elahi Shehzad Ghias Shaikh Wusat Ullah Khan KLF-Getz Pharma Urdu Poetry Award
Saleem Mandviwalla Shehzad Roy Zarmina Raza KLF-Getz Pharma Urdu Prose Award
KLF-The Little Book Company Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Books in:
Salima Hashmi Shoaib Arshad Zarrar Khuhro
Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, and Balochi Languages
Salman Sarwat Sirajuddin Aziz Zehra Nigah
Salman Tarek Kureshi Sophia Bano Zehra Shah 6.30 p.m. Performance by Nighat Choudhry on Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s
Sameena Nazir Stephen M. Lyon Zohra Yusuf
Sanam Saeed Suhai Aziz Talpur

moc Shaheen Salahuddin

Special Feature: An exclusive Art Exhibition by HBL 7.00 p.m. Panel Discussions
(Garden behind Casbah) 8.00 p.m.

Friday, 16 February 2024

Main Garden Jasmine Hall Aquarius Hall Room 007 Tulip Hall

7.00 p.m. – 8.00 p.m. How Agriculture can save Pakistan? 7.00 - 9.00 p.m. Book Launch: Timeless College Tales by
Muhammad Aurangzeb, Film Screening with Q&A: Nadya Chishty Mujahid
Moneeza Hashmi, Wajid Jawad, Syed Salim Raza, Miftah Ismail, Gandhi and Jinnah Return Home Nadya Chishty Mujahid in conversation with
Adeel Hashmi Ishrat Husain Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Nusrat Khawaja
Moderator: Bari Mian Moderator: Ali Habib Manjula Kumar, Farrukh Iqbal
Poetry recitation by Adeel Hashmi Book Launch: Foundations and Form:
Moderator: Haya Fatima Sehgal
Memoirs of a Pakistani Architect by
Mukhtar Husain
Mukhtar Husain in conversation with
Aliya Iqbal-Naqvi
 Saturday, 17 February 2024

Main Garden Jasmine Hall Aquarius Hall Room 007 Tulip Hall

11.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon Unraveling South Asia

Ikram Sehgal and Nasri Nazm Ka Irtiqa
Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry in conversation Naazir Mahmood, Syed Jaffar Ahmed, Afzal Ahmad Syed, Tanveer Anjum, Qaisar Khan Afridi, Makham Khattak,
Nausheen Ahmed, Syed Jawaid Iqbal Azra Abbas, Anwer Sen Roy Zehra Shah
Moderator: Mazhar Abbas Moderator: Syed Kashif Raza Moderator: Tahir Khan Mandokhail
12.15 p.m. – 1.15 p.m. Book Launch: Development Sustainability in an Evolving New Book Launch:
Pathways: India -Pakistan- World Order
Zehra Nigah and Kishwar Naheed Bangladesh (1947-2022) by Ishrat by Asghar Nadeem Syed
Selma Dabbagh,
Moderator: Hoori Noorani Husain Asghar Nadeem Syed in conversation with Verses in Play:
Ishrat Husain, Miftah Ismail, Nauman Naqvi, Nasir Abbas Nayyar Celebrating Tradition
Saleem Mandviwalla Book Launch: through Urdu Poetry
Moderator: Asma Hyder Hasnain Kazim Jury: Nasira Zuberi,
by Rafaqat Hayat Waheed Noor, Ahmad Atta
Moderator: Ali Usman Qasmi Rafaqat Hayat in conversation with Moderator: Ambareen
Syed Kashif Raza Haseeb Ambar
1.30 p.m. – 2.00 p.m. Book Discussion: Book Launch: Suffocation translated
by Asma Mansoor
by Hameed Shahid Syed Nusrat Ali
by Omar Shahid Hamid Hasan Manzar and Najeeba Arif
Omar Shahid Hamid and Inaam Nadeem Moderator: Bibi Ameena Hameed Shahid in conversation with
Moderator: Ghazi Salahuddin Mubeen Mirza
2.15 p.m. – 3.15 p.m. The Evolving Federation: Two Steps Vlogvolution: Content beyond Likes Book Launches: Passion or Profession
Forward One Step Back Bilal Hassan, Osamah Nasir, A Life Lived with Passion: Irfan Husain An Interactive
Kaiser Bengali, Faisal Siddiqui, Iftikhar Arif, Nasir Abbas Nayyar, Amtul Baweja, Kazi Akber (1944-2020) Edited by Carmen Gonzalez session with Youth on
Shabbar Zaidi, Asad Umar Peerzada Salman Moderator: Anoushey Ashraf and Abbas Nasir Performing Arts with
Moderator: Amber Rahim Shamsi Moderator: Mubeen Mirza
A Lifetime of Dissent: A Memoir by I. A. Junaid Zuberi
Rehman Moderator:
Zohra Yusuf, Ghazi Salahuddin, and Shoaib Arshad
Syed Jaffar Ahmed in conversation
3.30 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. Book Launch: Imran Khan: Myth The Last White Man Woven Words: Under the Tamarind Tree Theatrical Session
of the Pakistani Middle-Class by Mohsin Hamid in conversation with A Novel by Nigar Alam by Atif Badar
Nazia Ejaz Khan, Salima Hashmi, Nadeem Farooq Paracha Claire Chambers The Idle Stance of the Tippler Pigeon by Dramatic Readings
Arshad Mahmud
Amber Rahim Shamsi, Hasan Zaidi, Safinah Danish Elahi
Moderator: Ahmed Ali Butt
Nadeem Farooq Paracha No Funeral for Nazia by Taha Kehar
Moderator: Shehzad Ghias Shaikh by Imtiaz Ali Taj
Nigar Alam, Safinah Danish Elahi and
Taha Kehar in conversation
4.45 p.m. – 5.45 p.m. Getz Pharma EACPE Film Awards Arab Identity in Contemporary Times Building Future Skills: The
Zarrar Khuhro, Looking through the lens with Joseph Massad in conversation with Co-Existence of Local and International
Wusatullah Khan, Shahzeb Jillani Shehzad Roy S. Akbar Zaidi Examination Boards
Moderator: Nadia Naqi Moderator: Khalid Mahmood Sponsored by Andrew Coombe, Fouzia Khan, Shahnaz Wazir Ali,
In collaboration with
Arshad Saeed Husain
Moderator: Faisal Bari
6.00 p.m. - 7.00 p.m. Reforming Pakistan: A New Social To Print or not to Print: Blended National Youth Poet Laureate
Contract Digital Face of Learning Programme Poetry recitation with
Miftah Ismail, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Jibran Jamshad, Jehan Ara, young poets from Karachi
Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar Arshad Saeed Husain, Kashif Khan, Michael Cirelli Hameed Shahid, Asghar Nadeem Syed,
Moderator: Shaheen Salahuddin Wayne Press Tanzim ul Firdous
Moderator: Faisal Bari Presented by Moderator: Inaam Nadeem
7.15 p.m. - 8.15 p.m. 7.15 - 10.00 p.m. 7.15 - 8.45 p.m. Historical Fiction: Capturing the Reimagining the Ustad-Shagird
Feature Film Screening: Sadarat: Iftikhar Arif Atmosphere Tradition in Today’s Music and Culture
Moor (Mother) Nizamat: Nasira Zuberi Kenize Mourad in conversation with Sharif Awan and Rafay Mahmood
Kishwar Naheed, Anwar Shaoor, Bina Shah
Moderator: Adnan Rizvi
Afzal Ahmed Syed, Ashfaq Hussain, Tanweer
Anjum, Aqeel Abbas Jaffri, Harris Khalique,
Fazil Jamili, Sarwat Zehra, Ambareen Haseeb
Ambar, Salman Sarwat, Waheed Noor,
Ahmad Atta, Imran Saqib
 Sunday, 18 February 2024

Main Garden Jasmine Hall Aquarius Hall Room 007 Tulip Hall
11.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon In Pursuit of an Ethical State Coming of Age: Pakistani English Book Launch: A History of the
Syed Kaleem Imam, Shahab Usto, Language Literature Baloch and Balochistan
Mazhar Abbas, Huma Baqai, Muneeza Shamsie, Salman Tarek Kureshi, Martin Axmann, Naazir Mahmood, Shahid Siddiqui, Farid Panjwani,
Moderator: Suhai Aziz Talpur Maniza Naqvi, Taha Kehar Anwar Sajdi Anjum Halai, Baela Raza Jamil
Moderator: Claire Chambers Moderator: Shaheen Salahuddin Moderator: Khadija Bakhtiar
12.15 p.m. – 1.15 p.m. Urban Dialogues: Decoding Karachi's Jerusalem: A Journey Back in Time Beyond the Seas: Readings by
Dynamics A Presentation Michael Cirelli, and Aysha Baqir
Chaired by Arif Hasan Asghar Nadeem Syed, by Iftikhar Salahuddin Moderator: Maniza Naqvi
Murtaza Wahab, Tariq Alexander Qaiser, Nasir Abbas Nayyar, Bee Gul
Afia Salam Moderator: Khaled Anam
Moderator: Masood Lohar
1.30 p.m. – 2.00 p.m. Book Launch: Awaaz: Echoes of Book Launch: Book Launch: The Whispering Book Launch: Earth and Glimmer Unveiling the Minds: The Science
Freedom & Justice Chinar by Ali Rohila by Haya Fatima Sehgal of Mental Resilience
Ansar Burney, Shehar Bano Rizvi by Najeeba Arif Ali Rohila in conversation with Haya Fatima Sehgal in Imran Yousuf in conversaton with
and Tasneem Premjee Chamdia in Najeeba Arif and Inaam Nadeem Shazia Hasan conversation with Shaha Tariq
conversation with Muslim Rizvi Peerzada Salman
Moderator: Bibi Ameena
2.15 p.m. – 3.15 p.m. Book Launch: Qaum, Mulk, Book Launch: Climate Change and
Sultanat: Citizenship and National Sustainability; A Discussion on
Sanjay Rajoura,
Belonging in Pakistan by Ali Actions with Youth and Teachers
Mustafa Chaudary, Iftikhar Arif, Nomanul Haq, Najeeba Arif, by Ashraf Shad
Usman Qasmi Fozia Parveen, Rumana Husain,
Murtaza Chaudary, Faysal Chaudary Harris Khalique Ashraf Shad and Amir Zia
Martin Axmann, Ali Usman Qasmi, Baela Raza Jamil, Sehrish Farooq
Moderator: Aliya Iqbal-Naqvi Moderator: Mujahid Barelvi
Huma Ghaffar Moderator: Afia Salam
Moderator: Nadeem Farooq Book Launch: The Monsoon War:
Sponsored by
Paracha A Novel by Bina Shah
Bina Shah in conversation with
Christie Marie Lauder
3.30 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. Film: The Power of Storytelling Book Launch: Pakistan: Search for Higher Education: Nurturing Interactive Theatre and Dramatic
Sanam Saeed, Faryal Mehmood, Stability Edited by Maleeha Lodhi Tomorrow’s Innovators Poetry Readings by Atif Badar
Abid Aziz Merchant, Bee Gul Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry and Makhdoom Ali Khan, Stephen Lyon, Noman Ahmed,
Maleeha Lodhi Shaiq Usmani, Shaheen Salahuddin Shahnaz Wazir Ali
Moderator: Saba Karim Khan
Moderator: Huma Baqai Moderator: Mujahid Barelvi
Moderator: Khadija Bakhtiar
4.45 p.m. – 5.45 p.m. Human Rights and Wrongs The Big Picture: Future of Pakistan Translations of Sindhi Classics: From Ceasefire Forever
Jibran Nasir, Asma Shirazi, Harris Khalique, Shamshad Akhtar, Maheen Rahman, Shah Abdul Bhitai to Shaikh Ayaz Selma Dabbagh
Mohammad Ali, Sirajuddin Aziz, Noorul Huda Shah, Attiya Dawood,
Hasnain Kazim Wasif Rizvi Mumtaz Bukhari in conversation with
Moderator: Amar Pirzado Saba Karim Khan
Moderator: Ghazi Salahuddin Moderator: Muhammad Azfar Ahsan
6.00 p.m. – 7.00 p.m. Framing Reality as Comedy Songs of the Sufi: The Untold Story of Book Launch: A World of Her By the Swaying Palms and
Shehzad Ghias Shaikh, Mustafa Classical Qawwali (Screening of Film Own: Ada Jafarey by Aamir the Mangrove Creek: Poetry in
Chaudhary, Murtaza Chaudhary, followed by Q&A) A Play by Sameena Nazir Jafarey with Asra Jafarey English
Amber Rahim Shamsi Kamran Moin Anwar and Zehra Nigah and Aamir Jafarey Sophia Bano, Minaa Shahzad,
Moderator: Nadeem Farooq Paracha Qawwal Najmuddin Moderator: Nida Wahid Zarmina Raza, Farida Faizullah,
Moderator: Mahnaz Naveed Shah Book Launch: Among My Own: Moeen Faruqi, Moosa Gardezi,
The Untold Stories Of My People Sanayya Saleem
by Dr Naseem Salahuddin Moderator: Salman Tarek Kureshi
Naseem Salahuddin in conversation
with Shahnaz Wazir Ali
7.15 p.m. – 8.00 p.m. Closing Ceremony Main Garden
Keynote Speeches by: Najeeba Arif and Joseph Massad Honouring the Literary Legends:
Vote of Thanks by: Zehra Nigah, Iftikhar Arif, Kishwar Naheed, Muneeza Shamsie
Maya Inayat Ismail, Chief of Staff to the Chairman and Chairperson, Sustainability Forum-HBL
Khalid Mahmood, Managing Director & CEO, Getz Pharma Pvt. Ltd. Sufi Qawwali by Qawal Najmuddin Saifuddin & Brothers
Arshad Saeed Husain, Managing Director, Oxford University Press Pakistan
Producer Information
Oxford University Press (OUP) is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers
the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by
publishing worldwide. OUP Pakistan is committed to promoting the reading culture
and to improving the intellectual content of life in Pakistan. It has an extensive school
and college textbook publishing programme which addresses the need for books that
are both of high quality and specific to the environment. It has gained a reputation for
publishing well-researched academic and general books which are considered to be
authoritative and definitive works on Pakistan.

*Every effort will be made to adhere to this programme. However, the KLF organizers reserve the
right to change the programme at any time.