KARACHI: Mahatama Gandhi’s grandson Rajmohan Gandhi and eminent journalist Robert Fisk are among the literati and men of letters who will attend the 5th Karachi Literature Festival to be held on Feb 7, 8 and 9, 2014 at the Beach Luxury Hotel, announced the founding member of the KLF and managing director of Oxford University Press, Ameena Saiyid, at the Arts Council Karachi on Monday.

She said like the previous four editions of the KLF this year also authors from all over the world would take part in the event, including Uzma Aslam Khan, Ashis Nandy, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Kamila Shamsie and Raza Ali Abidi. There will be two performances of distinguished artist Naheed Siddiqui, who will fly in from Lahore with her son. Rajmohan Gandhi, Robert Fisk and Raza Ali Abidi will deliver keynote addresses.

More than 130 authors, representing eight countries, will be seen giving talks or being part of more than 70 sessions. There will be 30 book launches and a separate strand of children’s programmes.

Ms Saiyid told the media that three prizes would be given away this year. The first one is for the best nonfiction book sponsored by Coca Cola; second, the best work of fiction sponsored by the French embassy; and third, the KLF peace prize sponsored by the German consulate for the book promoting peace and harmony. A short story writing competition, for which more than 100 entries are already being perused, is also going to be a feature of the event. Apart from that, photo exhibitions, a standup comedy show and some other related programmes have also been lined up for the festival.

Earlier, Ms Saiyid gave a brief presentation on the fourth Karachi Literature Festival held this year in February.

Co-founder of the KLF Asif Farrukhi drew an analogy to describe the event. He said: “The infant has now become a child.” The intention was to make the festival bigger and better, and show to the rest of the world the diversity of Pakistani art, culture and literature, he said.

President of the Arts Council Ahmed Shah said his organisation was happy to be part of the festival and it was the responsibility of the media and intellectuals to take the initiative forward.

German consul general Dr Tilo Klinner said his country was pleased to be associated with the festival because the event attracted a lot of attention worldwide. In a turbulent environment it’s important to put a positive spin on things and the KLF was doing that. Dr Klinner informed the media that the KLF Peace award was inspired by the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade which was instituted after the Second World War, given to authors who made a difference by promoting peace.

Goethe Institut Karachi director Dr Manuel Negwer said two factors had chiefly contributed to the success of the KLF: the energy of its organisers and the fact that authors in other parts of the world, such as Germany, were interested in knowing Pakistani writers.

Italian consul general Roberto Franceschinis said Italy was happy to be linked with the event but compared to its German and French counterparts it needed to do more because the KLF was growing every year and expectations were now very high.Razi Azmat of Habib Bank and Ali Habib of NIB Bank also spoke.