KARACHI: With the theme of climate change, the fourth edition of two-day Adab Festival will open at the lush and vast garden of Karachi’s Frere Hall on November 26.
Ameena Saiyid, Founder and Director and Shama Askari, Director, Adab Festival, the Deputy Director, British Council Pakistan and Wasif Rizvi, President, Habib University, announced the program of the fourth Adab Festival to be held on 26 and 27 November 2022 from 1130 am to 9 pm at Frere Hall, Karachi.
“The theme of the Adab Festival this year is the climate crisis,” Ameena Saiyid, the founder and director of the event, said addressing a press conference at the fest’s venue.
“Adab Festival is a new Silk Route through which our traditions and culture, literature, the arts and their luscious fruits can travel and enter the hearts of people in every part of Pakistan and the world. Through Adab Festival, which is free and open for all, we want everyone in the community to love, experience and enjoy literature.” She added.
“Around one hundred speakers from all over Pakistan and abroad will participate in the festival to be held on November 26 and 27,” Ameena Saiyid said.
She said the festival would feature several sessions, an art exhibition and live music, with the participating countries to include the United States, the United Kingdom and France. She added that Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman would be among the keynote speakers.
Ameena Saiyid thanked Mr Murtaza Wahab, Mr Iqbal Memon, Commissioner, Karachi, British Council, Habib University, Lightstone Publishers, BARD Foundation, Institute of Business Management, Bank of Punjab, General Shipping Agencies Ltd, GETZ Pharma, EDLINKS, Pakistan International Container Terminal, Bilal Sons, Habib Metropolitan Bank, Mr Manzoor of Frere Hall, Starlinks PR and Events, Mr Afzal, Metropolitan Commissioner, DIG SSU Karachi, Deputy Commissioner, District South, Municipal Commissioner, District South, Additional Inspector General Police, Karachi Range, Ms Sara Amjad, Assistant Commissioner (Headquar- ters) Karachi, Mr Junaidullah, DG Parks, Dr Maqsood Ahmed, DIG SSU, and Sister Elizabeth, Principal of St Joseph’s Convent School Karachi for their support of Adab Festival.
Maarya Rehman, Deputy Director, British Council, said that we know that Pakistan is at the very cusp of the climate crisis, and its large youth population must be part of the long-term solution for tackling this global challenge. At the British Council, we have brought underrep- resented voices – especially those most affected by climate change – into the conversation, for example, by ensuring women and marginalized groups can participate in climate research and grant opportunities. Through arts and culture, we can bring young people together to connect and collaborate on creative responses to the climate emergency.
Speaking on the occasion, Wasif Rizvi, President Habib University, said, “Pakistan will soon be unlivable for humans. Extreme weather events – disastrous rains, lethal floods, devastating droughts and heatwaves – have made such unimaginable catastrophe a lived reality for the people of Pakistan. Change in Pakistan will likely have increasingly terrible impacts on food security and water scarcity. Despite this existential threat, Pakistan has done little to impact the mainstream climate change narrative.”
There will be a separate section for children to draw them to reading through storytelling, music, performances, and art.
Adab Festival will introduce new, innovative, creative approaches to promoting books, reading, authors, raising awareness of climate change by entertaining and engaging the audience through presentations, dramatic readings, debate, comedy, music, song, art and dance.
