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Karachi Literature Festival 2025 Celebrates ‘Narratives from the Soil’

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The Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) 2025 opened recently with a vibrant inauguration ceremony, marking the beginning of a weekend dedicated to literary excellence, thought-provoking discussions and cultural enrichment. Organized by Oxford University Press Pakistan (OUPP), this 3-day Festival was supported by the Government of Sindh as the title sponsor. Saeed Ghani, Provincial Local Government Minister, addressed the audience, highlighting the value of culture in social development, “Sindh has one of the most iconic historic legacies in the world.” In his welcome speech, Arshad Saeed Husain, Managing Director, OUP Pakistan, said, “Oxford University Press Pakistan continues its drive for not just promoting the beautiful culture of reading and discussions, but bringing to light the power packed ‘Narratives from the Soil’ to truly distinguish the enriching legacies that geographies have to share.”

Bringing together renowned writers, scholars and literary enthusiasts from across Pakistan and beyond, KLF 2025 reaffirms its status as a premier event in the country’s cultural and intellectual landscape. Distinguished guests and consul generals shared their remarks, emphasizing the significance of literary initiatives. The keynote speech, delivered by F.S. Aijazuddin and Asghar Nadeem Syed, set the tone for the Festival, celebrating the power of literature in shaping societies. 

Asghar Nadeem Syed, Playwright, Writer & Poet stated, “A story is only complete when it fulfills a certain structural compliance, however, when we hear tales, they can carry messages that are complete in themselves. So excited to be here for the three days of tales evolving.”

Keynotes were followed by the award distribution powered by Getz Pharma for; The Monsoon War by Bina Shah, which was awarded the English Fiction Prize Award; while شارق سعید کوہِ ملال (Koh Malaal by Saeed Shariq), won the Urdu Poetry Award; Urdu Prose Award went to سات جنم ، ناول ، شفقت نغمی (Saat Janam: Novel by Shafqat Naghmi) and سندھو ناولٹ جیم عباسی (Sindhu Novelet by Jeem Abbasi).

The inaugural ceremony concluded with a performance by the Khwab Dance Company. Brilliant conversations flowed in the subsequent well-curated sessions, taking a deep dive into economy, fiction, and architecture; Muhammad Azfar Ahsan led a PowerTalk on Pakistan’s economy and business climate, with prominent industry leaders and stakeholders.

16th KLF 2025 Concludes With A Call For Empowering Narratives From The Soil

The Karachi Literature Festival (KLF)’s second day had vibrant talks and music presentation by Suhel Rais Khan son of famous sitar nawaz Rais Khan, who is visiting from India. It was moderated by Malahat Awan who earlier discussed Tehzeeb’s function as an NGO.  

It concluded with a shout out for upholding and endorsing the ‘Narratives from the Soil’ as voices of people across the landscape. Urban issues took center stage in ‘Urban Dialogue: The Karachi Katchehri,’ had Murtaza Wahab, Mansoor Raza, and Bilal Hassan, addressing the challenges of Karachi’s governance and infrastructural issues.

Insightful discussions on pressing national and global matters continued to engage the audience. The literary discourse acknowledging the giants of Urdu literature today, ‘Urdu ki Taza Bastiaan’ featured celebrated poets and authors Iftikhar Arif, Harris Khalique, and Ashfaq Hussain, moderated by Zarminae Ansari.

The Youth Pavilion featured interactive and entertaining sessions, including Theatre Fun and Games with Atif Badar, Mind Twisters: The Thinking Zone with Amna Ghulam Hussain, Music and Dance with Atif Badar, and Story Time by Aunty Tashi. Classic children’s songs were revived in Geeton ki Mehfil: Sohail Rana’s Famous Songs by Atif Badar who performed well in all the programmes.

KLF’s final day also celebrated the launch of 14 books, including poetry books, the closing ceremony featured notable speakers including former Senator Khushbakht Shujaat and journalist Mishal Husain. The day’s finale was the qawwali performance by the maestros Ustad Farid Ayaz and Ustad Abu Muhammad.

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A Teen's Lens

Fashion Influencers are Becoming Cultural Ambassadors

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Written by Myra Shah

Each province in Pakistan has distinctive fabric heritage, such as the Sindhi ajrak and Punjabi phulkari. Pakistani fashion influencers have blended cultural identity with modern tools to rebrand Pakistan’s global image. Social media is no longer only about entertainment for us, it is also where we learn about culture, identity and trends.

Some examples of famous fashion influencers in Pakistan include, Zain Ahmad the founder of a Pakistani clothing brand ‘Rastah’ that has gained international recognition. Zain’s designs have been worn by famous influencers including Justin Bieber and Anwar Hadid.

Moreover, model Mushk Kaleem, frequently represents Pakistan while walking runways abroad, talking about inclusivity. This made us brown teens who feel left out from the beauty standard, feel seen as she has redefined the “ beauty standard”

These creatives have made Pakistani fashion more accessible to us, younger generations eg. by pairing khussas with jeans. This also attracts international audiences who want to incorporate cultural elements into their fashion style. These steps keep our culture alive, while making it a part of everyday fashion.

Fashion influencers play a critical role in highlighting the diversity between the different regions of Pakistan, as many feature regional designs in their content, allowing viewers to witness the wide spectrum of Pakistani culture through a single scroll of their social media accounts. This plays a significant role as it was found that 82% of people are highly likely to follow influencer recommendations (Berger, 2016)

Pakistani wedding fashion has gone viral on social media platforms such as Tiktok and Instagram and led to Pakistani designer’s work being featured in bridal magazines as well as representing South Asian culture. Influencers like Sarah Sarosh frequently incorporate Pakistani elements in their content, this demonstrates the influence of our fashion across borders.

Apart from clothing fashion, influencers like Hania Amir have used their reach not only to showcase fashion, but also to promote mental health awareness and body positivity – topics that really matter to us as teens. Fashion influencers elevate Pakistan’s global image and positively affect the economy by highlighting small businesses that contribute to the country’s creative economy.

Furthermore, many influencers are now invited to international fashion weeks and exhibitions, further cementing their status as cultural ambassadors. The power of Pakistani fashion influencers is growing rapidly and this comes with great responsibility. It is essential influencers promote sustainability and ethical practices. Influencers like Anoushay Abbassi’s blend of fashion and advocacy for supporting local artisans makes their influencer role highly crucial.

In today’s day and age, teenagers are growing up in this digital world where perceptions are shaped by information available on the internet, especially social media. Pakistani fashion influencers have become trendsetters, story tellers and identity shapers. Through every post, reel, OOTD (outfit of the day) pictures they are transforming how the world sees Pakistan. Clothing in Pakistan is a powerful expression of national pride, cultural identity and centuries old craftsmanship.

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Pakistan Women’s Foundation for Peace

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Women’s Day 2025

The Pakistan Women’s Foundation for Peace hosted the Women’s Day 2025 event, addressing Pakistan’s persistent gender disparity and the critical need for equality. Despite women’s undeniable contributions to society—excelling in academics, breaking stereotypes, and achieving historic milestones—Pakistan ranks 145th out of 146 countries on the Global Gender Gap Index, a position it has held for years.

President PWFFP said Women make up 49 percent of the population, yet their literacy rate remains only 51 percent, and their workforce participation stagnates at 25 percent. Even in politics and corporate leadership, their presence is limited, often restricted to token roles. Rural women face even harsher realities, with unpaid labour and lack of recognition. Billions have been spent on women’s development programmes, yet tangible improvements remain scarce.

PWFFP urges a national commitment to addressing these issues through better resource allocation, strict accountability, and a stronger push for gender parity. This year’s event featured renowned experts Dr. Ishrat Husain (Economist), Ms. Nasreen Jaleel (Politician), Dr. Tasneem Ahsan (Health Specialist), Barrister Zahra S. Viyani (Legal Expert), Ms. Baela Raza Jameel (Educationist), and Dr. Asad Sayeed (Economist). Their insights highlighted solutions to break barriers and advance women’s empowerment in Pakistan.

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Songkran – Festival of Water

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The vibrant spirit of Thailand came alive in Karachi recently, as the Royal Thai Consulate General hosted the Songkran Festival at the Pakistan American Cultural Center (PACC). Held in collaboration with the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), PACC and Pakistan Print and Electronics Media. The event marked two special occasions: the Thai New Year and the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Pakistan.

Consul General Mr. Surashete Boontinand opened the evening with a warm address, highlighting the cultural significance of Songkran, recently inscribed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. He emphasized the importance of cultural exchange in strengthening bilateral ties.

Over 200 guests, including media representatives, diplomats and members of the local community, were treated to a colourful lineup of performances that blended Thai and Pakistani traditions. From elegant Thai dance to rhythmic Pakistani music and dance the evening was a celebration of unity through culture.

Guests also enjoyed a rich spread of Thai cuisine and took part in traditional Songkran activities, including the famous water-splashing ritual, which symbolizes cleansing, renewal, and good fortune.

The Songkran Festival in Karachi was more than a cultural showcase—it was a reflection of the growing friendship and mutual respect between the two nations, leaving attendees with memories of joy, connection, and shared heritage.

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