In a press conference at the Arts Council, Baela Raza Jamil, co-founder and director of the Children’s Literature Festival announced the two-day programme and the largest learning festival for children and teachers in the categories of art, mathematics, literature and heritage. Endorsing CLF are 15 goodwill ambassadors, including actors, musicians etc who expressed their full support to the social movement that promotes learning amongst children.

In terms of authoritarian support, Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shallwani was present and expressed gratitude to the organisers and his support in high spirits. “A metropolitan as big as Karachi only has 42 libraries but I have a mission since I took the office to make one big public library here in Karachi. This is yet to be decided, something as busy as the San Francisco public library where one can’t find space to sit. CLF is a great platform to support the cause,” said the Commissioner.

The festival took place at the Arts Council, and the multiple halls and buildings of the complex were renamed to honour the literary and academic dignitaries and well as geographic locations of Pakistan. The 16 learning stands packed the two-day event were spread across 68 sessions with personnel from past festivals as well as new talent and ended both days with a star-studded concert. Showing their full support to the young minds, book launches from child authors and performances from child prodigy opened the event along with a first time introduction of CLF Award for Outstanding Services by Resource Persons and Institutions.

The Children’s Literature Festival was launched in November 2011 with a footfall across all four provinces and Islamabad, in over 25 districts, catering to children in the age group 3-18, with a vision and mission to reach, educate and provide books for children across the nation. •