If literature can even be a solution to the prevailing crisis in Pakistan, then the number of youth at such events could be a sign of that. The country still mired in old problems is also dealing with increasing polarisation. Of which: youth is the direct victim.

Asma Shirazi went to the Pakistan Literature Festival (PLF) in Lahore on Monday for her show Faisla Aap Ka to ask questions against this backdrop. And, her respondent were not just speakers but the attendants also.

“You have to take the support of creative literature and connect with books for the protection of your bright future and smiles. You will get the power of knowledge when you will connect with books. And by this you can defeat these ignorant people, who have deprived you of happiness,” anchorperson Hamid Mir said.

He was joined by a bunch of youngsters as he went on to add that the festival has helped in engaging the youth, also the disappointed ones, with the country’s culture, music, literature, and art.

For the first time, the PLF was being organised in Lahore with the collaboration of the Arts Council Karachi and Alhamra Arts Council. The main highlights of the event were music, a book launch, and intellectual discussions.

Moreover, a large number of youth thronged the festival.

Hamid, who is also a columnist and scholar, was delighted to see that “good literature” was being constructed in Pakistan. It was a sign of the creative mind, he said and added that the problem lied with the political leaders who were lacking this quality.

“In a country, where good literature is being created there is a dearth of healthy economy and politics. This is a gap. It will be filled when the youth, here at this literature festival, will be taking the place of those politicians. Then the problem will be solved,” the anchorperson added.

When asked about if he sees any signs of such a possibility, the Capital Talk host gave a blunt reply. “It will not be a free lunch. They will have to grab it with the power of the vote.”

He reiterated that the key to problems lies in books. According to Hamid, youth not adults have the simple solution to simple issues.

Youth comprise a large section of Pakistan’s population and every political party has been trying to target this group in their election campaign.

Faiz, one of the attendants at the event, was of the view stressed the need for changing the mindset to treat and upbringing of the youth.

Arts Council President Ahmed Shah, who is the brain behind literature festivals, highlighted the importance of the mother tongue.

Talking about the venue, he said that Lahore was not about it. “It is about Waris Shah, Iqbal, Data Ganj Baksh, Shah Hussain. This is Lahore,” he said.

Shah called for cultural identity and reclamation of public space amid the prevailing crisis. “We are trying to awaken the authorities, who are not doing their work. We need to end the culture of Maula Jatt [a character of a famous Pakistani movie]. Gandasa is not the culture of this city. Sufi is the culture of this city. Lahore is running because of a person who is sitting here for 800 years and from Baba Farid to Ghulam Farid… no one has so rich treasure in the world. So, the ownership for what should be taken is not being taken.”

The Arts Council president vowed to organise such events in Gwadar, KP, Gilgit Baltistan, and Azad Jammu, and Kashmir.

“Lahoris are still connected to their culture, tradition, and language. It is important to speak in the mother tongue,” he added.