LAHORE: The first-day of Pakistan Learning Festival (PLF) 2024 was dedicated to “Learning for People and Planet,” at Children Library Complex on Wednesday.

Punjab School Education Department (SED) Secretary Ahsan Waheed was the chief guest, with Children Library Managing Director Ahmad Khawar Shahzad and PLF Founder and ITA CEO Baela Raza Jamil also in attendance.

The event began with a vibrant rendition of PLF anthem Hamain Kitab Chahiye by the students of Sanjan Nagar.

A new children’s book was launched by the Pakistan Literacy Project, in collaboration with ITA, Room to Read (RTR), and three publishers.

Partners such as the SED, Pilac, the British Council, and Oxford University Press expressed their support for PLF.

The day unfolded with various riveting sessions, including Suno Kahani Meri Zubaani andan interactive session by Rumana Husain called Sitti’s Bird, a poignant book by Palestinian author Malak Mattar.

The Alif Laila Book Bus Society (ALBBS) hosted an enjoyable session, Storyteller Bus, featuring engaging activities.

A special session by Children Library Complex highlighted women role models, aiming to inspire and celebrate the contributions of women in roles exemplifying resilience and leadership.

The day concluded with its last session where SOC Films curated an enriching selection of screenings. This cinematic finale provided a thought-provoking and entertaining build-up to the concert featuring Sufi music by Fazal Jutt and Ahsan Abbas Wadalian.

festival: The Lahore Arts Council will organise a one-day festival on instrumental music in the second week of February.

Officials told Dawn the festival would feature instrumentalists both seasoned ones and amateurs. It would also feature an exhibition of musical instruments, talks on instrumental music and performances.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2024