PESHAWAR: Dosti Peshawar Literature Festival kicked off here on Monday to mark a vibrant weeklong celebration of literature, culture, dialogue and creativity in the city.

Volunteers, right activists and organisers of the event showed up in a large number at the inaugural ceremony of the festival held in Brains Institute. The festival has been arranged by Dosti Welfare Organisation in collaboration with several partner bodies. The fifth edition of the festival themed ‘Harfe-i-Tamana’ (word of desire) is set to revive Peshawar’s storied tradition.

The chief organiser of the festival, Ejaz Khan, said that the event would serve as hub of storytelling and intellectual exchange while addressing modern themes like social change, environmental awareness, cultural perseveration, youth and women empowerment, interfaith harmony and peace.

The organisers highlighted return of the event with greater energy and impact, building on previous editions that drew large audiences for author’s talks, panel discussions, book launches, bookstalls, workshops, children’s literature segments, mushairas, theatre performance and cultural conversations.

Weeklong activities to serve as platform for storytelling, exchange of ideas

Dr Ravish Nadeem, in his keynote address, stated that the festival would feature multilingual sessions in Pashto, Urdu, Hindko, English and Arabic and more alongside structured academic and language engagements.

Senior Islamic scholar Prof Qibla Ayaz stressed the need for enduring spirit of expression and aspirations in literary traditions. “Important contemporary issues and pragmatic solutions to them must find reflection in all the vent’s features. No significant issue or topic should escape the eye of experts as such platforms should provide opportunity to thinking minds whether youth or senior,” he said.

The festival is meant to bridge generation gap, honour the region’s multiethnic and trans-cultural heritage and serve as a platform for open ideas in an inclusive space. Organisers termed a renewal of shared cultural spaces and narratives.

Dr Mohammad Makram Balawi, a guest speaker, said on the occasion that the festival would bring together literati, intellectuals, artists, professionals, community leaders, rights activists and educators to share their experiences, observations and opinions baffling minds of youth in the hi-tech era.

Prof Dr Syed Hanif Rasool Kakakhel in his speech highlighted main features of the week-long festival. He said that it would foster intellectual exchange, promoting book culture, providing emerging writers, students, scholars with a space for meaningful discourse. He said that over years, DLF had significantly contributed to revitalising Peshawar’s cultural landscape through inclusive dialogue and creative expression.

Dr Zafarullah, the rector of Brains Institute, and senior research scholar Aslam Mir also spoke at the ceremony.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2026