Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) description

Karachi Literature Festival (KLF), the first and by far the foremost literature festival
in the country, needs no introduction. It has become an integral part of the social
and intellectual calendar of this city and, indeed, of the country. More than 220,000
people attended the festival over its two and a half days last year. And many times
that number viewed it, or read about it, or heard about it from friends and on the
media.
From its first iteration in March 2010, KLF has garnered enormous interest and
debate in the media and among the literary and intellectual communities in the
country. It has since become a much-awaited annual event and a landmark in the
cultural history of Karachi. It is one of the few events in the country that has
received such local and international acclaim.
The eleventh edition of KLF will take place on 28, 29 February and 1 March 2020 at
the Beach Luxury Hotel in Karachi. The festival is being organized by Oxford
University Press (OUP) with support from several sponsors.
KLF seeks to create an intellectual space in which the diversity and pluralism in
Pakistan’s society and that expressed by authors from literary and cultural
traditions beyond Pakistan’s borders can be freely accessible to people in an open
and participatory manner. It provides a unique opportunity to put Pakistan on the
map as a country rich in culture, creativity, and exchange of ideas and opinions.
KLF brings together and celebrates Pakistani and international authors writing in
many languages, including Urdu, Sindhi, Balochi, English, German, Italian, and
French. It features interviews, discussions, talks, mushairas (poetry recitals) in
Urdu and English, a book fair, book launches, readings and signings, film
screenings, music, dance, theatrical performances, literary prizes, and much more.