The Karachi Literature Festival
(KLF) was launched in March 2010 and has been such a resounding success the
organisers have recently added two sister events to their calendar, the Lahore and
Islamabad Literature Festivals.
This momentum reflects the depth
of Pakistan’s historical, literary, and cultural roots, and the great desire
and energy throughout the whole country to seek knowledge, understanding, and
creative growth.
KLF 2015, to be held this
weekend, will bring together and celebrate authors writing in diverse languages,
genres, and traditions. It will feature debates, discussions, lectures, mushaira, (traditional Pakistani poetry slams), a
book fair, book launches, readings, signings, comedy, satire, theatre, music,
and children’s sessions such as storytelling, puppetry, painting, singing, and
creative movement.
Three literary prizes will be awarded during the Festival:
The KLF Coca-Cola Prize goes to the best
non-fiction title originally written in English by a Pakistani or
Pakistan-origin foreign national, published anywhere worldwide, and it comes
with a prize of PKR 200,000.
The KLF Peace Prize, which comes with a prize of
Euros 4000, is a joint project of the KLF, the Consulate General of Germany in
Karachi, and the Embassy of Germany in Islamabad. It goes to a fiction or
non-fiction title that promotes peace, tolerance, and international
understanding, published anywhere worldwide in any language translated into
English, and written by a Pakistani or a Pakistani-origin foreign national
residing anywhere worldwide, or any foreign national who is a resident of
Pakistan.
The KLF Embassy of France Prize promotes fiction
originally written in English. The author, who must be a Pakistani or a
Pakistani-origin foreign national residing anywhere worldwide, of the best
novel or short story collection, published anywhere worldwide or
self-published, wins an official invitation for a fully-sponsored visit to the
Paris Book Fair.
If you are in
Karachi, KLF will be held at the Beach Luxury Hotel on 6, 7, and 8 February.
There’s no need to register in advance: just turn up. It’s free to attend.
