FLI Partnered in Organizing another Literature Festival in Islamabad

A three day ‘Pakistan Mother Language Literature Festival concluded here on Sunday as it has become one of the important elements of Islamabad’s cultural and literary scene for the last eight years.

FLI partnered with the Indus Cultural Forum, a volunteer organisation comprising literary and cultural enthusiasts to arrange the festival in collaboration with Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) at its premises in Islamabad.

FLI, like always supported the festival this year too to provide exposure to the people from its target language communities from northern Pakistan. It made ten books; it had published in five indigenous languages in the calendar year of 2022 part of the festival and launched during the festival. The authors of the books were also part of the event who briefed the audience about their work. Nasir Mansoor launched five books in his language, Kataviri he had brought in the year. Razwal Kohistani from Shina Kohistani, Rozi Khan Burki from Ormuri, Hayat Muhammad from Dameli, and Mullah Adina from Gawarbati language unveiled their books FLI helped publish them.

Speaking at the concluding ceremony, Indus Cultural Forum Chairman Dr Manzoor Hussain Soomro thanked FLI’s contribution and partnership to organize the event. The festival was supported by several govt and private organizations. ICF General Secretary Ashfaq Hussain Chandio said that the festival is a great source of bringing people from all language communities together.

The festival is a great source to exchanges of ideas and creative works between writers, artists, poets, and activists during these three days are further cultivated across the year and these three days become the source of years-long bonding and collaborations between them.

FLI staffers and those from its target communities actively participated in the festival. Muhammad Zaman moderated two sessions on different days while Amir Haider was part of a panel discussion which focused on strengthening indigenous languages. Those who came to participate in the festival and took part in other sessions from FLI’s partner organizations include Shahid ur Rehman from Gojri, Muhammad Zubair and Aftab Ahmad from Torwali, Zahoor ul Haq Danish and Iqbal ud Din Sahar from Khowar, Javed Hayat Kakakhel from Khowar (Ghizer) and Dr. Mueezud Din from Burushaski.

Muhammad Irfan from Khowar language community was acknowledged with a life achievement award. FLI put its books on display throughout the festival. The Khowar language was also part of the musical night with the traditional music performance at the concluding session of the event.

Earlier in the day, the speakers called for an education policy that centered around the cognitive abilities of children to learn effectively in their mother language at the primary level and gradually move to other languages. Ameer Haider along with panelists called for revisiting current education policies and practices to pave the way for learning in the mother language.