ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) Chairperson Dr Najeeba Arif has said that the youth were fully capable of carrying forward the light of literature.

In an interview with APP on Friday, she said the two-day second “Nasl-e-No Adabi Mela 2025,” hosted by PAL, was “not merely an event but a platform of expression, dialogue, and intellectual freedom.”

Dr Arif added that through this festival, PAL aimed to provide a rare opportunity for dialogue, learning, and self-expression, projecting a vibrant scene of cultural and intellectual unity.

“Literature fosters positive change in human nature, and the festival offered young people a golden chance to learn from their elders,” she remarked, referring to ‘Nasl-e-No Adabi Mela 2025’ that was held on August 12 and 13.

The festival brought together young writers and established literary figures from across the country in celebration of Pakistan’s Independence Day and Marka-e-Haq. The event was attended by participants from several regions, alongside renowned poets, writers, and international personalities.

The festival opened with a flag-hoisting ceremony at PAL’s Chamanistan-e-Adab, attended by artist Jamal Shah, National Heritage Secretary Asad Rehman Gilani, and celebrated literary icons including Zehra Nigah, Sahar Ansari, Kishwar Naheed, Waheed Ahmed, and others.

Throughout the two days, multiple sessions — including Mitti ka Qarz and Dialogue with Representative Young Creators — explored themes ranging from post-independence opportunities to climate change, cultural traditions, and the responsibilities of young writers.

Four training workshops, covering prosody, prose writing, and translation, engaged youth in literary exercises. A major highlight of the festival was the All Pakistan Mushaira, featuring celebrated poets, including Anwar Masood, Iftikhar Arif, Sahar Ansari, Anwar Shaoor, among others.

The closing ceremony, presided over by Mahtab Akbar Rashdi with Hafeez Khan as chief guest, praised the youth’s literary contributions. Certificates, books, and souvenirs were distributed among participants and distinguished guests.