Literary festivals like “Adab Festival 2020 (AdabFest)” provide a much-needed boost to the habit of reading and through these type of event recognition is given to books and writers in our society which are rapidly moving away in directions which can be destructive. These views were expressed by Founder and Director Adab Festival Pakistan Ameena Saiyid and Co-Founder of the Festival Asif Farrukhi in a joint press conference at the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi. They announced that Adab Festival (AdabFest), will be held from January 31 to February 02 will be formally inaugurated on January 31 at 04 pm, in the Arts Council here. Ms. Ameena said that valet parking will be available at the Arts Council throughout the event. She said around 200 speakers/performers would participate at the AdabFest including Iftikhar Arif, Arfa Sayeda Zehra, Kishwar Naheed, Aamer Hussein and others. Asif Farrukhi said that relevant social issues are being emphasized in this upcoming Adab Festival and some ground-breaking books are being launched.

Inauguration keynote speakers are Amar Jaleel, Asif Saeed Khosa, Francis Robinson, and Maleeha Lodhi while closing keynote speakers are expected Adania Shibli, Noor ul Huda Shah, and Syed Sardar Ali Shah. Adab Festival Director and Kathak dance artist Shayma Saiyid said that Qawwali by Farid Ayaz Qawwal, dance performance and comedy would be an integral part of the event, as the concept of”Adab” is vast and inclusive of such arts.

Prominent Playwright and poetess Ms. Zehra Nigah, President Arts Council Mr. Muhammad Ahmed Shah (Sitara-e-Imtiaz), Commissioner Karachi Mr. Iftikhar Shalwani, Founder of PILLER Mr. Karamat Ali and Goethe-Institut (Board Initiatives; Anna Lindh Germany, Head of Network) Mr. Stefan Winkler were also presented.

Background;

Pakistan’s historically rich and diverse literatures and cultures have long been facing challenges, resulting in stifled diversity of expression and in stereotypes we sometimes internalize. We launched our free, open-to-all festival on 1, 2, 3 February 2019 in Karachi, to celebrate writers and artists. Please mark your calendars for next year’s Adab Festival in Karachi to be held on 31 January, 1 and 2 February.

We celebrate literature in diverse Pakistani languages, launch books, feature talks, interviews, discussions, mushairah / poetry sessions, a book fair, music, dance, theatre, comedy/satire, and film. We feature over a hundred Pakistani and international authors, and an audience of around 200,000 from the widest cross-section of society to celebrate not just ideas, debate, and creativity, but also community and public space.