All set for KLF 2014 to shoot on February 7

Pakistan News & Features Services

The Beach Luxury Hotel of Karachi, housed on the shores of the Arabian Sea, is buzzing once more. For the second time running they are playing host to the much talked about Karachi Literature Festival whose fifth edition, KLF 2014, gets underway on February 7.

The settings are perfect and the weather just nearly ideal for the visitors to enjoy their stay in the arena. As in the past, the Oxford University Press (OUP) has made elaborate arrangements to hold the event in a most spectacular fashion. 

The preparations at the venue had started quite a few days ago and everything appeared to have been done in orderly fashion by the designated deadlines. The festive look and the literary feel one got at entering the hotel was truly outstanding which reflected awesome planning and brilliant execution by a team of committed professionals. 

The KLF 2014 will be having all the usual features that have remained associated with it since its inception in 2010. The added attraction would be the stall of Jumbo Infomedia, who will be displaying Jumbo Karachi Guide besides announcing the Jumbo Lahore Guide, Jumbo Islamabad Guide, Jumbo Peshawar Guide and Jumbo Quetta Guide. 

Jumbo Publishing will also be represented prominently with their standout sports books quite likely to catch the imagination of the large number of visitors at the KLF 2014. 

Over 180 Pakistani and 34 international authors, poets and academics are expected to be there at the KLF 2014. Renowned historian and Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson, Dr Rajmohan Gandhi will be the keynote speaker at the inauguration ceremony. The award-winning novelist, Kamila Shamshie, and the Pakistani BBC broadcaster, Raza Ali Abidi, will be the keynote speakers at the closing ceremony. 

The KLF has also instituted awards to be given to authors for three different prize categories: KLF-Coca-Cola Best Non-Fiction Book Prize, KLF-Embassy of France Prize, and KLF Peace Prize. The panel of judges for the prizes includes some of Pakistan’s most eminent critics, writers and scholars, who have short-listed three books for each prize category. 

Ashish Nandy, Kuldip Nayar, Mushir ul Hasan, Moni Mohsin, Amjad Islam Amjad, Asma Jahangir, Amar Jaleel, Attiya Dawood, Bina Shah, Bushra Ansari, Fehmida Riaz, H.M. Naqvi, Hamida Khuhro, Kishwar Naheed, Maleeha Lodhi, Mohammed Hanif, Mustansar Hussain Tarar, Pervez Hoodbhoy, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Shehnaz Wazir Ali, Shehzad Roy, Uzma Aslam Khan, Zehra Nigah, Zia Mohyeddin and Zubaida Jalal are among the many literary luminaries, academics, and journalists due to participate in the KLF 2014.