Quetta: Arts Council Karachi held press conference at Quetta Press Club regarding forthcoming two-day Pakistan Literature Festival 2024 (Quetta Chapter) to be held in Quetta, Balochistan.

Press conference featured distinguished personalities including Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Hilal-i-Imtiaz and President Arts Council Ahmed Shah who provided insights into festival’s agenda accompanied by Secretary General of Quetta Press Club, Banaras Khan and President of Union of Journalists Khalil Ahmed.  Ahmed Shah announced that inauguration of Pakistan Literature Festival 2024 (Quetta Chapter) is scheduled to take place on May 15 at BUITEMS University Quetta.  Personalities from fields of arts, entertainment, politics, literature and other sectors will participate in festival. Ahmed Shah said that organising festival in Balochistan is heartwarming endeavour.

He said Arts Council Karachi is only council not governed by government.” He underscored deep-rooted historical ties between Balochistan and Sindh, noting active participation of Balochi writers and poets in Karachi.  He mentioned awarding prizes to Balochi literature and extending support to Pashto literature through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. Festival encompasses various local languages including Balochi, Brahvi and Pashto, with 75 percent of participants hailing from province.

 Sessions focusing on ancient ties between Balochistan and Sindh have been arranged. Ahmed Shah expressing council’s commitment to sustaining this initiative highlighted involvement of literary figures alongside government representatives, aiming to address issues pertinent to Balochistan. Shah said that he might not be politician, but I am certainly part of society. 

He revealed that youth from Lyari, which is often referred to as Mini-Balochistan are actively involved in Arts Council Karachi. “We have students from Khuzdar who come to study. However, he pledged to organise grand musical festival, bringing together Balochistan’s musicians.  He praised remarkable work of Balochi Academy and highlighted presence of Balochi books in library of Arts Council Karachi.  He said that restless and unemployed youth will not rest until they are assured. He emphasised unless circumstances improve, problem will persist. We will hold musical programme at Ayub Stadium when conditions improve. He clarified that this is not political but cultural festival.  

“We are bearing expenses of this festival ourselves. Balochistan government is with us, and Culture Department is cooperating with us using its funds. Pakistan Literature Festival includes joint cooperation from Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences.”  Banaras Khan thanked Arts Council Karachi for organising such big literary festival in Quetta. Khalil Ahmed said that organising literature festival in Quetta is welcome thing for Balochistan.