Three-day Karachi Literature Festival 2016 underway

“Bringing together international and Pakistani writers to promote reading and showcase writing at its best,” reads a post on the KLF website. Prominent writers, speakers, media personalities and social activists from within the country and abroad as well will attend the three-day event.

The event was highlighted in the media during the past few days owing to the Anupam Kher controversy, when the Pakistani High Commission denied the Bollywood actor a visa. Kher was supposed to speak at the festival.

Nandita Das, who was also supposed to feature as a speaker, announced via a Facebook post that she could not attend the event owing to health reasons.

“I have been unwell since yesterday [Wednesday] and unfortunately I am unable to go [to] Karachi. I felt terrible letting down the organisers but it’s beyond my control. I had offered to do the sessions via Skype to make sure one can participate and the intent with which the Lit Fest is organised, is upheld,” she said.

Karachi Literature Festival 2016 will be held at Hotel Beach Luxury and timings for the event are from 10:00 a.m. to 09:30 p.m.

Delighted to speak at Karachi Literature Festival. Strong UK presence at #KLF2016 shows another side to UK/Pak ties pic.twitter.com/N5hsgrWZYp

— Philip Barton (@PhilipRBarton) February 5, 2016

A one minute silence was held over the demise of Urdu writer Intizar Hussain.

#KLF2016 LIVE: At the opening ceremony a minute of silence is observed for Intizar Hussain. #Karachi #KhiLF pic.twitter.com/qc9i4IQTXe — Images (@dawn_images) February 5, 2016

Karachi Literature Festival #KLF2016 begins in #Karachi over 200 speakers will speak @Qasimsoomro @omar_quraishi pic.twitter.com/0CimihUiC9

— Mush Rajpar (@MushRajpar) February 5, 2016

The entry for the event is free and open for all. More information for the event can be obtained from www.karachiliteraturefestival.org