Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi President Muhammad Ahmed Shah announced on Tuesday that due to suspended diplomatic relations, more than a hundred Indian writers will not be sent invitations for its flagship literary festival. During a press conference, Shah said that this situation has been “imposed on us,” and added that writers from both countries oppose conflicts and have passed resolutions against war.
The press briefing detailed plans for the four-day “18th World Urdu Conference 2025 – Jashn-e-Pakistan,” set to begin at the Arts Council on December 25. This year’s symposium will celebrate Pakistani literature from 1947 to the present day.
Shah explained that the conference’s agenda includes discussions on the country’s most famous poets, novelists, and short-story writers, while special sessions are also dedicated to distinguished female writers who are no longer alive. Contemporary topics such as “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Literature” and climate change will also be included, in addition to two international mushairas and qawwali nights.
The announcement was made on December 16, a date Shah described as “a very dark day in Pakistan’s history,” being the anniversary of the Army Public School massacre in Peshawar. He paid tribute to the martyred children and teachers, and drew a parallel to the “ongoing genocide in Gaza,” stating that such acts of terrorism cannot weaken Pakistan’s resolve.
Reflecting on the event’s origins, Shah recalled that he started the conference 18 years ago when Karachi was facing “massacres of people…on ethnic grounds.” He stressed that the gathering was founded to foster dialogue and has since incorporated all of Pakistan’s regional languages to promote unity.
Renowned poetess Zehra Nigah lauded the initiative, stating, “The biggest pillar for uplifting morals is our literature and language.” She described Urdu as a “language of connection” and emphasized that all languages spoken in Pakistan are equally respectable. She assured, “Karachi’s name will always shine and sparkle for the promotion of languages through the Urdu Conference and literature.”
Other speakers echoed these sentiments. Academic Peerzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui highlighted the conference’s global recognition and its role in nurturing youth. Joint Secretary Noor ul Huda Shah spoke of the Arts Council’s resilience, recalling how it held mushairas even when “bullets were flying outside,” which solidified Karachi as a cultural hub.
Vice President Munawar Saeed and Secretary Ejaz Farooqi also praised Shah’s leadership and credited the conference’s continued success for nearly two decades to his efforts.