Do you want to meet your favourite author face to face? Are you looking forward to indulging in stimulating discussions on culture and literature with like-minded individuals? Would you like to spend a day celebrating books, ideas, and performing arts? If any of these prospects excite you, you should consider adding Karachi Literature Festival 2023 to your itinerary for this weekend.
The annual literary festival organized by Oxford University Press Pakistan has become an important part of the city’s social calendar. It brings together spectacular writers, intellectuals, scholars, and artists from around the world for a full weekend of talks, readings, debates, and performances. From book launches by national and international authors to poetry recitals in multiple regional languages, the event encompasses a host of activities to satisfy the brainiacs and bibliophiles of the borough.
The 14th Karachi Literature Festival – more commonly referred to as KLF 2023 – will be held on February 17, 18, and 19, at Beach Luxury Hotel, one of the best hotels in Karachi.
Moreover, the event is free to enter and open to all.
Karachi Literature Festival is approaching soon. Don't miss this wonderful festival of words, dialogue, and music!
— Karachi & Islamabad Lit Fests (@KhiIsbLitFests) February 2, 2023
Mark your calendars.
📅 17, 18 and 19 February 2023.
Beach Luxury Hotel.#KarachiLiteratureFestival #KarachiLiteratureFestival2023 #KhiLF #KLF2023 pic.twitter.com/IwpKICbEW8
Let’s take a deeper look into the history of this literary festival in Karachi before discussing the theme of this year’s event.
Karachi Literature Festival – The History
Being the first – and by far the only – literary event of its scale in Pakistan, Karachi Literature Festival has amassed a legion of dedicated followers since its inception. It holds undeniable significance in the intellectual and scholarly circles of the cosmopolitan city, attracting a large number of readers, aspiring readers, and individuals who appreciate works of art.
The Oxford University Press Pakistan organized the first Karachi Literature Festival in March 2010, which turned out to be rather successful. After witnessing the success of two consecutive literary events in Karachi, the Children’s Literature Festival was introduced at the end of 2011. The popularity of KLF led to the launch of the Islamabad Literature Festival in 2013 and the Teachers’ Literature Festival in 2014.
In May 2017, Karachi Literature Festival was held abroad for the very first time. Celebrating the 70th birthday of Pakistan, the event was organized at the Southbank Centre in London as part of the Alchemy Festival. Oxford University Press Pakistan collaborated with the Southbank Centre, Rukhsana Ahmed, and Bloomsbury Pakistan to host the festival.
What Does Karachi Literature Festival Seek to Achieve?
The popularity of the Karachi Literature Festival among the residents of the bustling metropolitan reflects the diversity of the literary landscape and the audience’s passion to pursue knowledge, creativity, and innovation. This annual event also provides a platform to young writers, intellectuals, and scholars in a bid to inspire a productive dialogue that is free and open to individuals of all ages and backgrounds.
Some of the most prominent objectives of KLF include:
- Using languages and academic disciplines to represent intellectual traditions and cultural diversity
- Promoting inter-cultural harmony by celebrating books, performing arts, and cultural roots
- Creating a forum for intellectual dialogue
- Encouraging the world to see and connect with the literature, culture, and social ethos of Pakistan
- Fostering artistic expression and emerging literary talent
- Celebrating cross-pollination of ideas, apolitical views, and counter-narratives
- Reclaiming public space in the city for literary and cultural exchanges
You can also check out the official website of the Karachi Literature Festival to learn more about its vision and mission.
Karachi Literature Festival 2023
Some of the main features of KLF 2023 include:
- Panel discussions
- Interviews
- Dramatic readings
- Book launches
- Author signings
- Poetry reading
- Documentary screenings
- Qawwali performance
- Performing arts
- Bookfair
- Food court
Karachi Literature Festival Timings and SOPs
The organizers of the KLF 2023 will shortly share their programme featuring the timings of each event.
Location of Karachi Literature Festival 2023
Address: Beach Luxury Hotel, Moulvi Tamizuddin Khan Road, Lalazar, Karachi.
Nearest landmarks: Port Grand, Karachi Boat Club, and TDF MagnifiScience Centre.
KLF 2023 Helpline
For more information, please call: 0092 336 2334647
Please note that this blog will be updated with the latest details about the 14th Karachi Literature Festival. Therefore, don’t forget to check back frequently.
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FB Cover Credits: Facebook/Karachi & Islamabad Lit Fests
