KARACHI, March 16: The Pakistan Medical Association, in collaboration with at least five publishing houses, has organized a three-day literary spring festival, beginning on March 19.

The publishing houses taking part in the festival are Oxford University Press, Maktaba-i-Daniyal, Mashal Pakistan, Sindhica Academy and Sheherzad. Shakeel Adidzada, Ghazi Salahuddin, Ameena Saiyid and Dr Haseeb Alam will take part in a discussion on the first day. A talk on cloning will also be held. Senior poet Tabish Dehlavi will preside over a Mushaira in the evening.

On the second day, a function for children will be held. Leading men of letters will tell children stories. A talk on Aids will also be held. A book on Aids will be launched.

A seminar on "New literature - trends and attitudes" will be held on the third day of the seminar. The seminar, presided over by Jamil Jalibi, will see leading literary personalities speak on various aspects of literature. A "Sham-i-Afsana" will be held in the evening.