Day 2 of Islamabad Literature Festival 2024 – Breaking Barriers Through Words and Dialogue

Day 2 of Islamabad Literature Festival 2024 – Breaking Barriers Through Words and Dialogue

Islamabad, November 9, 2024 – The second day of the 10th Islamabad Literature Festival (ILF), in collaboration with Getz Pharma and NEO Paints, celebrated the power of literature, art, and discourse to reshape mindsets. Themed “Words Change Mindsets,” the event brought together a vibrant community of authors, poets, academics, and cultural icons for a day of profound discussions, book launches, and cultural performances.

A key moment was the screening of *Umro Ayyar: A New Beginning*, a cinematic retelling of classic folklore, that mesmerized audiences with its fresh storytelling approach.

Throughout the day, multiple book launches took place, each bringing unique perspectives. *Tareekh Ki Azeem Feminist Auratein* by Naeem Mirza and Kishwar Naheed sparked a powerful conversation on feminist history, while Kishwar Naheed’s *Another Story of the Bad Woman* drew an intense dialogue around societal norms. Other notable launches included Ayesha Husain’s *What More Could She Possibly Want?* and Shafqat Naghmi’s *Saat Janam*.

Tributes were paid to late literary icons during *Yaad-e-Raftagan*, with Iftikhar Arif honoring scholars who defined literary excellence, particularly those connected with the progressive Tarraqi Pansand Tehreek.

Panels throughout the day tackled timely issues, including Pakistan-Bangladesh relations, where Mushahid Hussain and Ikram Sehgal highlighted the need to bridge the trust gap, calling for “bilateral relations free of visa and tariff barriers.” The discussion *Unlocking Worlds* reflected on the limitations of AI in translation, urging preservation of cultural context in language.

Other sessions focused on pressing socio-political themes, such as *Empowering Citizens*, with Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, Peter Jacob, Farhatullah Babar, Romana Bashir, and Pritham Das Rathi examining the link between democracy and human rights. In *Human vs. National Security*, Salma Malik questioned Pakistan’s future trajectory, emphasizing the need for national autonomy in its policy.

*Shaping Pakistan’s Climate Future* brought attention to the climate crisis, as Ali Tauqeer Sheikh described its severe impact on impoverished communities. Aisha Kahn, Abid Suleyri, and Rina Saeed Khan joined in highlighting the urgent need for climate resilience.

In education reform, Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, Arshad Saeed Husain, and Shahid Siddiqui stressed the importance of health, equity, and relevant curricula. Arshad emphasized, “We must focus on upskilling to unlearn and relearn.”

*Media Ethics and the Responsibility of Truth* saw heated exchanges as Hamid Mir, Umber Khairi, and Kathy Gannon advocated for a unified code of ethics for media integrity.

The evening Mushaira, led by Zehra Nigah, and the Punjabi Mushaira presided over by Anwar Masood, capped the day with poetic expressions that celebrated cultural pride, regional heritage, and introspection, with performances by esteemed poets.

Day 2 of ILF exemplified the transformative power of open discourse and creative expression, moving toward breaking barriers and fostering unity across cultural, political, and social divides.