ISLAMABAD: The Oxford University Press (OUP) has announced the schedule for the 9th edition of the Islamabad Literature Festival (ILF).

According to a statement, the three-day literary extravaganza would start on November 3 at the Gandhara Citizen Club in F-9 Park.

“With the overarching theme of ‘People, Planet, Possibilities’, ILF promises an array of captivating keynotes, engaging conversations, book launches, exhibitions and film screenings,” it stated.

The inaugural event on November 3 will be open to the public, featuring addresses by Arshad Saeed Husain, OUP Managing Director; Jane Marriott, British High Commissioner, and Khalid Mahmood, Managing Director Getz Pharma.

The event will include keynotes by notable British author, biographer and historian Victoria Schofield and eminent Urdu poet Iftikhar Arif.

The programme also has a grand Mushaira presided over by Iftikhar Arif and a Ghazal night with Ustad Hamid Ali Khan on the second and third evenings, respectively.

All informative and literary discussions will be led by eminent experts, including Dr Ishrat Husain, Dr Maleeha Lodhi, Mohammad Aurangzeb, Mohammad Azfar Ahsan, Saquib Ahmad, Dr Farzana Bari, Dr Najeeba Arif, Nasir Abbas Nayyar, Kishwar Naheed, Nasira Zuberi, Omar Shahid Hamid, Muneeza Shamsie, Harris Khalique, Hamid Khan, Zahid Hussain, Nasim Zehra, Hamid Mir, Asma Shirazi, Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha, Asghar Nadeem Syed, Khaled Anam, Sarmad Khoosat and Beo Zafar. The diversity of their perspectives will enrich the sessions over the course of three days, exploring an array of captivating topics, from the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence, evolution in education, contemporary literature, endangered languages, role of women in publishing, changing business dynamics and foreign policy.

An introduction to UK’s leading examination board ‘OxfordAQA’ is also part of the event. OxfordAQA is well known worldwide for its reputation for academic excellence and alignment with the UK education system and will soon be available in Pakistan as the preferred option for examinations.

The OUP managing director stated, “ILF and KLF have both become a rich resource for restoring the ethical and cultural perspectives in our society, by broadening horizons and instilling deep faith in our own identity as an equal and formidable part of the global culture.”

The 9th edition of ILF is being held in collaboration with CDA, Getz Pharma Pakistan, Kaizen Paint, British Council and other supporters.

Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2023