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VOL. 29/20 Friday, May 17, 2019 13 Ramadan 1440

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Lahore Literary Festival in New York Spotlights National Debates

n By Muna Habib

he Lahore Literary Festi-
val (LLF) usually involves
Tprofessional writers and
experts sitting and talking to one
another in public, sometimes a
debate, to provide a form of lively
entertainment that highlights key
issues in Pakistan.
Th erefore, the recent Lahore
Literary Festival (LLF) that conclud-
ed in New York was not too dissimi-
lar from previous years and raised a
number of key points ranging from
politics, food and culture to the
environmental impact of China’s
billion-dollar investments. Here is a
summary of the key takeaways from
the thought-provoking sessions.
Pakistan’s literary talent has be-
come stymied from regimental gov-
ernment oversight.
As Pakistan’s journalists and
opposition leaders bemoan the
crackdown by state and non-state
actors on journalists on freedom of
expression, Pakistan’s literary talent
has also become stymied from regi-
mental government oversight.
During a session titled Lahore
& Literary Icons, Salima Hashmi, a
prominent artist lamented the de- During a session titled Lahore & Literary Icons, Salima Hashmi, a prominent artist, lamented the demise of celebrated icons in Pakistan by observing,
mise of celebrated icons in Pakistan “The desire for Pakistani society for regimentation in certain ways has stamped out the eccentricities – and the diversity has been stamped out before
by saying, “Th e desire for Pakistani you can build someone up to be an icon”
society for regimentation in certain
ways has stamped out the eccen- linary queen Madhur Jaff rey said, our culture enough. So this inspired ate all over the world” and reminded tor UN’s Development Program
tricities – and the diversity has been “We keep stumbling over India me to write my book,” she said. the delegates of the US Pakistan his- (UNDP) Pakistan, where he over-
stamped out before you can build or Pakistani food, but the roots of United States (US) President tory, “In Pakistan history runs very saw governance and climate change
someone up to be an icon.” our cooking is the same – we need Donald Trump’s Tweet of 2018 was deep – that’s what I explain to my adaptation, “CPEC is the biggest
Author Khaled Ahmed agreed, someone to combine the two names viewed by Pakistanis as scathing – American friends. But in America, investment in Pakistan but not one
“If you look at Lahore today it is not to the food in one word – but not in it, US President Donald Trump the future begins today and we don’t word about the environmental im-
very much like what it used to be South Asia that’s so boring.” criticized Pakistan for the aid it had remember the history.” pact on the Pakistan government
when it was more creative. I think On discussing the diff erence received while accusing it of only Writer Madiha Afzal agreed website.”
when the LLF started – an aspect in dishes between rural and urban giving “lies and deceit” in return. with his assessment, “America does He added despite Pakistan’s
was a revivalist eff ort – so that we cooking, Sameen Rushdie said, Th e relationship hit a new low as the not acknowledge how the 1980s has much-needed investment from Chi-
can go back when Urdu ruled La- “Food has become a class indicator.” Trump administration suspended impacted Pakistan,” she said. All na on CPEC, as it will “help produce
hore – when there were great mas- Moderator Ali Ahmed Akbar military and security assistance to participants agreed there was now new job for the new generation of
terpieces,” he said to an almost full concluded the event by suggesting Pakistan. But now according to for- an opportunity for the Prime Minis- Pakistan, the Pakistan CPEC deci-
auditorium. people who are unable to aff ord mer US Ambassador to Pakistan, ter Imran Khan to reset the bilateral sions need to be open and transpar-
India and Pakistan use food as cooking for a community can share Richard G Olson, “the relationship relationship. ent.”
a political tool used to defi ne iden- their recipes and culinary skills is on the up again”, he said, while Th e potential impact of the He explained Pakistan contin-
tity and roots. through video. He encouraged jour- discussing US-Pakistan relations: development of new roads and in- ues to have strategic and governance
It is an interesting experience nalists to undertake this endeavor. however, Shuja Nawaz, former di- dustrialization on Pakistan’s gla- issues that need to be addressed.
learning about identity and roots “As journalists, we can go out rector of the South Asia Center at ciers, rivers and ecosystems is being “Th ere is a huge gap between
through food. Th e unique char- to the areas and use video to share the Atlantic Council in Washington ignored according to experts in a civil society and parliamentarians,”
acteristics of Pakistani and Indian their stories,” he said. DC, warned, given the current US session titled, ‘Impact of Belt Road he said. Erum Sattar agreed on the
cuisine through recipes developed Writer Sumayya Usmani re- administration’s policy on foreign Initiative on Pakistan’s Environmen- importance of all Pakistanis to be in-
through the history of South Asia, called her inspiration for her book. aid, “Th is administration probably tal Ecology. volved in the decision-making pro-
were discussed in the session titled “Food is our life – it is present at won’t give so much civilian assis- According to Marc-André cess. Aban Marker Kabraji, IUCN
Writing Stories for Food. Indian cu- every gathering; we don’t celebrate tance, because that is how they oper- Franche, former Country Direc- LLF, P26

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