Faiz Festival concludes at Alhamra

2026-02-16 - 00:26

The 10th Faiz Festival concluded at the Lahore Arts Council (Alhamra) with a vibrant final day celebrating the poetry, vision and legacy of Faiz Ahmed Faiz. The last day of the three-day festival brought together writers, poets, artists, intellectuals and citizens in large numbers. Various sessions, book launches, discussions and performances were held across different halls of Alhamra, highlighting Faiz’s message of hope, justice, democracy and humanity. The day began with a dance performance by Lahore Grammar School students in Hall 1. Later, multiple sessions were held simultaneously. Prominent speakers at different sessions included Harris Khalique, Salima Hashmi, Samina Rehman, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Sohail Warraich, Wajahat Masood, Fawad Hassan Fawad, Asad Gillani, Mehtab Akbar Rashdi, Kabir Altaf, Ijaz ul Hassan, Prof Shaista Sonnu Sirajuddin, Asghar Nadeem Syed, Zehra Nigah and Nasir Abbas Nayyar. An engaging conversation between Mahira Khan and Samina Peerzada, moderated by Adeel Hashmi, attracted a large audience. Literary discussions also focused on Faiz’s journalism, cultural policy, and his influence on global poetry. A special comparative session examined the works of Pablo Neruda, Nazim Hikmet and Mahmoud Darwish alongside Faiz, highlighting shared themes of resistance and human dignity. Other sessions explored Lahore’s cultural heritage, pre-partition cinema, contemporary literature and poetry readings. Dance performances and a puppetry workshop also added artistic diversity to the event. Alhamra Executive Director Muhammad Nawaz Gondal said the overwhelming participation and rich discussions during the festival showed that Faiz’s vision remains relevant today. He said the Alhamra is committed to promoting inclusivity, dialogue, artistic freedom and national harmony. The 10th Faiz Festival ended with a renewed commitment to carry forward Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s message of hope, justice and humanity.