ISLAMABAD: Children Literature Festival enthrals thousands of children on its first day here at Lok Virsa with a large number of renowned writers, authors, poets and creative artists marked their presence by featuring their skills and craftsmanship in different interactive and packed sessions. Canadian High Commissioner along with leading scholars, writers, poets and artists inaugurated the festival here at Lok Virsa on Friday.
Idara-e-Taleem-0-Aagahi along with Oxford University Press is organizing the festival in collaboration with Lok Virsa, Open Society Foundation, Telenor Pakistan, HBL, Federal Directorate of Education, Capital Administration and Development Division.
Canadian High Commission to Pakistan Heather Cruden while addressing the opening ceremony shared her amusement on being part of such a large scale event dedicated to children especially. Talking about future, HC said that we can secure our future only by investing in our children and activities like CLF are the greatest ways to bring our children close to not only our own culture but the global practices and values. He expressed her gratitude to CLF organizers and assured for any cooperation if requested for any future activities specially designed for the children.
On this occasion, CLF founder Baela Raza Jamil welcomed all the guests and shared the brief history of CLF and its making. She mentioned that CLF has become a tradition and in future it would be top export of Pakistan to rest of the world. While addressing the opening ceremony she said “we at the CLF do not miss the beat and since one of our tag lines is celebration of diversity and heritage as a living inspiration for the present and future”. While addressing on this occasion, Lok Virsa Director Dr. Fauzia Saeed said that events like Children Literature Festival can play a pivotal role in the growth of creativity and love for books in the minds of our young children. She expressed her pleasure of being part of CLF and said that Lok Virsa administration would always be happy to contribute in such needed activities.
The inauguration ceremony was followed by day long activities including Performance of Folk Artists facilitated by Lok Virsa, To discuss the nature of Curriculum a special session “ Curriculum of Peace or hate” was moderated by Munizeh Jahangir while Tahira Abdullah, Peter Jacob, Sameena Imtiaz, Baela Raza Jamil participated in the discussion. In a session “Article 25 – A: Right to Education – From Access to Quality Learning for All”, panelists including Nargis Sultana, Zubeida Mustafa, Mosharraf Zaidi, Haroona Jatoi, Dr. Faisal Bari shared their thoughts while A theatre performance “ KlaMotte” wwas presented by Goethe Institute.
On this occasion CLF Magazine’s 10th edition Uran Tashtaree was also launched by editor Amra Alam in a discssuion with famous actress Laila Zuberi. To promote library culture a session “Promoting Libraries and Reading Through Innovations in Pakistan” was held in which panelists including Barbara Welsh, Baela Raza Jamil, Inam ul Haq and Ameena Saiyid shared their view points along with moderator Zara Basharat. Songs for Children were presented by Dheree Bolo and Stories for children narrated by Rumana Husain. Many Book Launches were also held including the launch of “Tasveeri Kahani Silsila”, by Rumana Husain while discussed by Zubeida Mustafa. A Talk on Cultural Heritage with Sarwat Mohiuddin and Arfa Sayeda Zehra was also arranged. In a session F”rom Manuscript to a Book by Oxford University Press”, Ameena Saiyid, Raheela Baqai, Fayyaz Raja, Batool Nasir, and Khaled Anam participated. Zambeel Dramatic Readings presented Tipu aur Jadu ki Bayl – Story adapted by Zara Mumtaz. A session on Digital Security Training was also held.
CLF would be finishing today (Saturday) highlighting many more creative and instrumental activities and performances in many interactive sessions and especially designed programs. Including Children Folk Performances by Lok Virsa, Interactive Book Launches of CLF Publications Bhooli Bisri Suni Sunai and Tota Khan aur Bakri Ara ka Safarnama, A conversation on the role of media in popularizing and unlocking the power of reading by Hamid Mir, Ameena Saiyid, Fereeha Idrees, Zubeida Mustafa and Abdul Samad. Known Writer Haseena Moin will be sharing light on how to write a drama while an Art Workshop on Sadequain and Chughtai would also be held on last day along with many more interactive sessions.
On this occasion Multi-sensory stalls by Idara-e-Taleem-O-Aagahi, CLF, Dawood Foundation, Pakistan Reading Project Mobile Library, Kuch Khaas Khel, Sabaq Foundation, Knowledge Platform, Children Artisans at Work would also be installed while The Art of Book Making would be presented by Oxford University Press.
