The First Karachi Literature Festival was organised by Oxford University Press in collaboration with British Council in March 2010. Inspired by the success of the first two festivals, the Children's Literature Festival was launched at the end of 2011. Thus the momentum that began in Pakistan with KLF leading, also saw the Islamabad Literature Festival being launched in 2013, further followed by the Teachers’ Literature Festival in 2014, and many others following their example. This momentum reflects the depth of Pakistan's literary and cultural roots, and the desire and energy to celebrate the pursuit of knowledge, understanding, and creativity. In celebration of Pakistan's 70th birthday, and for the first time, KLF was held outside Pakistan, in London, in May 2017 at the Southbank Centre as part of the Alchemy Festival, in partnership with Oxford University Press Pakistan, the Southbank Centre, Rukhsana Ahmad, and Bloomsbury Publishing .
KLF seeks to create an intellectual space in which the diversity and pluralism in Pakistan's society and this is expressed by the authors from literary and cultural traditions beyond Pakistan's borders are freely accessible to people in an open and participatory manner.
To create a forum for intellectual dialogue and inter-cultural harmony through celebration of writing, publications, and performing arts.
To provide opportunities through which the world can see and connect with the literature, culture, and social ethos of Pakistan, and from which Pakistan can encounter what is happening in the world.
To promote artistic expression and emerging Pakistani and international literary talent
To encourage counter narratives, cross-pollination of ideas, and apolitical views
To reclaim public space in Karachi for literary and cultural exchanges
Format
The festival consists of literary discussions, book launches, and creative writing workshops. There is also an opportunity to meet a galaxy of authors, get some book signings done and visit a book fair.
Dates
2010: March: 20 & 21
2011: February: 5 & 6
2012: February: 11 & 12
2013: February: 15, 16 & 17
2014: February: 7, 8 & 9
2015: February: 6, 7 & 8
2016: February: 5, 6 & 7
2017: February: 10, 11 & 12
2018: February: 9, 10 & 11
2019: March: 1, 2 & 3
Award
In 2011, the festival organisers announced the Karachi Literature Festival Prize for Best Non-Fiction Book in English. The book has to have been published in the preceding year. The award carries a monetary award of Rs. 100,000. In 2014, the award was raised to Rupees 150,000.
This year's participants included the famous historian from India Rajmohan Gandhi, keynote speaker was author Robert Fisk along with over 100 Pakistani writers and 30 international writers from eight countries. It saw the launch of 30 books by many noted authors.
