The Lahore Literary Festival (LLF) returned to New York Saturday, with Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, describing the Punjab capital as a “fountainhead of creativity and intellectual discourse” in the country.
UNITED NATIONS, Oct 11 (APP):The Lahore Literary Festival (LLF) returned to New York Saturday, with Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, describing the Punjab capital as a “fountainhead of creativity and intellectual discourse” in the country.
The Asia Society, New York, held a day-long festival in conjunction with the Lahore Literary Festival, one of South Asia’s premier cultural events, at which a wide variety of subjects were discussed.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Sheikh, who was accompanied by Pakistan’s Consul General in New York Aamer Ahmed Atozai, highlighted Lahore’s immense and continuing contribution to Pakistan’s literature, drama, theatre, film and performing arts.
He also recalled the historic significance of the Lahore Resolution, adopted in 1940, describing it as a legendary piece of political literature which transformed into reality affording the ideological foundation for the eventual creation of Pakistan.
LLF founder and CEO Razi Ahmed welcomed the Ambassador for his presence, as did Rachael Cooper on behalf of Asia Society.
The event brought together distinguished writers, intellectuals and artists, celebrating arts and literature and promoting cultural understanding between Pakistan and the international community.
Speakers presented to American audiences with a more nuanced view of Pakistan, with discussions on fiction and nonfiction writing, art, science, history, and politics.
This year’s LLF speakers included Hazel Kahan, Sadia Shepard, Salima Hashmi, Cassim Shepard, Suketu Mehta, Ayeda Husain, Mehreen Jabbar, Sunita Kohli, Farwa Aamer and Felicia Kainat Norton.
In his remarks, Ambassador Sheikh drew on his long personal association with Lahore, saying that nothing quite matched the City in its glory, vibrancy and cultural significance.
Drawing a parallel with the United States, Ambassador Sheikh remarked that Lahore in Pakistan was comparable to New York in America—a city that embodied cultural dynamism, intellectual vitality and national identity.