About the 16th Karachi Literature Festival
The three-day Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) will be held from 7th to 9th February 2025 at the Beach Luxury Hotel, Karachi.
In line with our tradition of exploring contemporary major trends, this year’s KLF theme is “Narratives from the Soil.” Our discussants will shed light on the critical issues facing our city, country, and the world, seeking ways forward. Rather than dwelling on disorder, violence, and calamities, the aim is to understand these challenges and find lasting solutions. Additionally, there will be sessions on the latest developments and trends in Pakistani and global literature in English and Urdu, media and entertainment, education and scholarship, intellectual life, and everyday life. As always, KLF 2025 will foster thought-provoking discussions in an environment that promotes openness, pluralism, and intellectual discourse.
The 16th KLF brings together a diverse group of writers, thinkers, and literature enthusiasts to share their stories and ideas, exploring major trends and critical issues facing our city, country, and the world. Attendees can look forward to books from both new and established authors, as well as sessions on developments in literature, media, entertainment, education, and everyday life. Of course, the invigorating conversations that define KLF will be ever-present. This year, KLF will also feature a dedicated Youth Pavilion with 15 sessions showcasing theatre, story time, and music.
There will be over 70 sessions, including 26 book launches with a mix of both Urdu and English. All sessions will be live streamed on OUP’s social media channels. Visitors and the online audience will be able to enjoy KLF signature sessions i.e., the Mushaira, Poetry readings, and Urban Dialogue: The Karachi Katcheri. This year, KLF will highlight a choice of sessions on literature, education, public interest and culture and as in the past there will also be performances, feature films, and a series of short independent film screenings.
A total of 6 literary awards for Pakistani authors will be announced at the opening ceremony. These awards are supported by Getz Pharma Pvt. Ltd. and the Little Book Company.
The organizers of the 16th KLF are excited to welcome visitors and look forward to two days of stimulating experiences, as well as memorable moments.
We look forward to seeing you at the Beach Luxury Hotel on February 7th, 8th, and 9th. No registration is required—simply come and join us!
Over the years, the guest speakers have been outstanding, including, but not limited to, keynote speakers of the status of:
Late Shamsur Rahman Faruqi, Karen Armstrong, William Dalrymple, Intizar Husain, Nadeem Aslam, Kamila Shamsie, Rajmohan Gandhi, Raza Ali Abidi, Nayantara Sahgal Zehra Nigah, Late Fahmida Riaz, Pervez Hoodbhoy, Arfa Sayeda Zehra, Ziauddin Sardar, Mustansar Hussain Tarar, Ayesha Jalal, Bobby Sager, Mohammed Hanif, Francis Robinson, Noorul Huda Shah, Anwar Maqsood, Amit Chaudhuri, Mani Shankar Aiyar, Deborah Baker, Late I.A. Rehman, Ishrat Husain,
Zehra Nigah, Muneeza Shamsie, William Dalrymple, Zaheda Hina, Ahdaf Soueif, Harris Khalique, Late Zia Mohyeddin, Victoria Schofield, Hanif Kureshi, Sardar Masood Khan, Dr. Arif Alvi,
President of Pakistan, Sherry Rehman, Shehan Karunatilaka and Ahmed Rashid.
