The two-day “Pakistan Literature Festival 2025 Sukkur Chapter II,” organized by the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, was inaugurated at the Football Ground of Sukkur IBA University. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah was the chief guest and was welcomed by Arts Council President Muhammad Ahmed Shah.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Provincial Minister for Culture & Tourism Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Nasir Hussain Shah, Syed Khurshid Shah, Mushahid Hussain Syed, Sukkur Mayor Arsalan Islam Shaikh, Chairman District Council Sukkur Syed Kumail Haider Shah, Ali Hassan Zardari, Vice-chancellor Sukkur IBA Asif Ahmed Shaikh, Dr. Tariq Rafi, Owais Qadir Shah, Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar, Mukesh Kumar Chawla, Ghulam Nabi Memon, Farrukh Shah, Madad Ali Sindhi, Chairman sukkur arts Council Mumtaz Bukhari, Zahid Khand, Ghazi Salahuddin, Nauman Shaikh, and renowned actors Mustafa Qureshi and Munawar Saeed. Famous writer Noor-ul-Huda Shah, media personality Sultana Siddiqui, Qasim Naveed, students, and many people from the literary and arts community and all over Sindh attended the ceremony.
The president of the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, Muhammad Ahmed Shah, delivered the welcome speech, while educationist Dr. Syed Jafar Ahmed and writer Noor-ul-Huda Shah presented the keynote addresses. Dr. Huma Mir hosted the event.
In his speech, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah congratulated the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi for organizing such a grand festival in Sukkur. He mentioned that similar festivals have already been held in Quetta, Kashmir, and Lahore, emphasizing that promoting art and culture is Ahmed Shah’s key responsibility.
He stated, “We will not allow anyone to plunder Sindh’s projects. Holding such literary festivals is a positive step. The festival will include sessions on arts, culture, economy, environment, technology, and other important topics.”
He added, “Success is not possible unless we unite. An individual alone can not achieve much; we must work together.” He recognized the efforts of Sukkur IBA’s founder, Nisar Ahmed Siddiqui, and said he was a visionary leader. Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah’s contributions are also commendable.
He also highlighted the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi’s success through the Youth Festival, Theatre Festival, Children’s Festival, International Urdu Conference, and Pakistan Literature Festival.
Referring to the World Culture Festival Karachi held last year, he said, “Last year, 44 countries participated, and this year, over 100 countries will perform.”
The President of the Atts Council of Pakistan Karachi, Muhammad Ahmed Shah, thanked Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah, Khurshid Ahmed Shah, Mushahid Hussain Syed, and others for their support in organizing the festival. He appreciated the contributions of Sukkur IBA University Vice-Chancellor Asif Ahmed Shaikh and expressed optimism about Sukkur Mayor Arsalan Islam Sheikh’s vision for Sukkur’s development. He also commended the efforts of the Chairman of District Council Sukkur Kumail Haider Shah.
Sindh Minister for Culture Zulfiqar Ali Shah praised Noor-ul-Huda Shah’s keynote speech, stating that Sindh has a history spanning over 5,000 years. He emphasized, “Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai gave women a high status in his poetry, something that even Shakespeare and other famous writers did not do.”
Educationist Dr. Syed Jafar Ahmed stressed the importance of engaging youth in cultural and creative activities. He pointed out the lack of focus on primary education, stating that while university numbers are increasing, 89,000 children are out of school, which is alarming.
In her keynote speech, Writer Noor-ul-Huda Shah addressed the youth of Sindh, saying, “You are the true heirs of this land. Sindh’s youth must recognize the importance of preserving their culture. Education and degrees mean nothing if women are not given their due respect and rights. The issue of Sindh is not just water scarcity but also the direction in which its youth are headed. Sindh must be freed from the control of feudal lords and religious leaders. The feudal and spiritual leadership system has ruined Sindh.”
The Vice Chancellor of Sukkur IBA University, Asif Ahmed Sheikh, said, “I thank Muhammad Ahmed Shah for trusting us once again. Again, we are going to showcase our capabilities. I am also grateful to the Sindh Government for contributing to the festival.”
She concluded, “We are not here just for entertainment; we are here to share knowledge. Sindh belongs to us, and we must think independently and make informed decisions.”
On the first day of the Pakistan Literature Festival Sukkur Chapter II, various thought-provoking sessions were held, including Future Leaders in the Digital Age, Sindhi Literature in the 21st Century, Employment Challenges & Opportunities for Sindh’s Youth, Tribute to Aakash Ansari, A Discussion with Kumail Haider Shah,
Changes in Pakistan and the Global Landscape, Art and Humour with Gul Mallah and Sohrab Somroo, Quality of Education, Film & TV Industry in the Digital Age, Violence Against Women: Causes & Solutions, Is the Economy Recovering?, A Talk with YBQ, A Discussion with Sultana Siddiqui, Poetic Conversations with Young Poets Ali Zaryoun and Umair Najmi, and a Session with Sohail Warraich.
while renowned poets recited their poetry at the Mushaira.
The first day concluded with a Sufi Night at the Sukkur IBA University Cricket Ground, featuring performances by Hamza Akram Qawwal & group, Sanam Marvi, and Ahsan Bari.
