Category: Education

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir)  On the second day of Adab Festival Pakistan (AdabFest) Karachi 2019, on Saturday, thousands of literature lovers thronged to the venue of the festival and actively participated in the events. People of all ages attended the festival, including avid readers, writers, academics, and literary figures from across Pakistan and the world for the second day of the festival, which began on Friday at the Sindh Governor

The first three-day ‘Adab Festival Pakistan’ opened at the Sindh Governor’s House on Friday amid the presence of a large number of writers, poets, intellectuals and book lovers. Ameena Saiyid and Asif Farrukhi, who founded the Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) about ten years ago and are now co-founders of the Adab Festival. The festival will continue till February 3 and will feature various sessions on different topics and will be attended by some of the most prominent literary figures of the country.
House, Karachi.

The day started with a session “A conversation with Seyyed Vali Nasr” that was moderated by Salim Raza. In another session, Sayed Amjad Hussain talked on the ‘Partition of India seen through the prism of literature’ and ‘Does risqué poetry have a place in Urdu literature?’ This session was moderated by Syed Nomanul Haq where it was discussed that while some western societies have allowed the public expression of risque poetry, it remains out of bound in most cultures even though it continues to thrive and be passed on orally in all cultures/languages.

In the session ‘Conversation with Amar Jaleel’, Noorul, Huda Shah had a very interesting discussion along with Shah Muhammad Pirzado who moderated the session. In a parallel session, Sibtain Naqvi had an intriguing talk with Irshad Abdul Kadir on his book “Prodigal & Deriabad Chronicals while in the session on ‘Kuliyat-e-Suroor’, panelists Iftikhar Arif, Hoori Noorani viewed & discussed video clips of ‘Baarabankvi’ with the moderator Inam Nadeem.

At the lunch of Javed Jabbar’s “what is Pakistaniat”, Nadya Chishty Mujahid had a wonderful discussion with author on the topic of this being possibly the first-ever book to attempt a numerical identification of the 41 constituent elements ( 30 positive, 11 negative ) that shape the unique national identity of the Pakistani people.

On the issue of ‘the forgotten history of women’s travel writing in Urdu’, Daniel Majchrowicz discussed his research on the history of the Urdu safarnama, with a focus on his soon-to-be-published study of travel writing by women in Urdu and Punjabi. The travel account hardly existed in Urdu before the mid-nineteenth century – why did it suddenly appear, and why and when did women begin to take up the genre themselves? This talk provided an introduction to this fascinating but forgotten field, with ample quotations from Urdu’s earliest women travel authors themselves. The session was moderated by Dr. Yaqoob Bangash.

At the launch of General Fida Hussain Malik’s “Balochistan: A Conflict of Narratives” Zobaida Jalal, Tariq Khosa, and Javed Jabbar and an interesting discussion with the author. The session was moderated by Omayr Saiyid. In the much talked about session “Socio Economic Development Under CPEC” Ishrat Husain, Zahid Husain, Fatemeh Aman discussed core economic issues with the moderator Vaqar Ahmed.

A talk by aftab Nabi was a crowd puller that shed light on colonial Rule in Sindh from 1843 to 1947 with a focus on Hur insurgency of 1941-46. The events leading to the imposition of Martial Law of 1942-43 and the repression unleashed during that martial law period. The panel included Mehtab Rashdi,  Zaituna Umar, Yaqoob Bangash and the session was moderated by Masood Lohar.

In the session “Who’s afraid of Umera Ahmad?” it was discussed that that literature and the people related to it have done us a great service by expelling us from their ranks. We have become closer to the common people if it is true that literature has been proven the guiding torch during difficult times of a nation’s history, then in 21st-century Pakistan, this role will be realized by the works of “popular fiction writers,” not by those of elite artists (adīb). This LUMS student-led panel (Hamad Abdullah Nazar, Mahnoor Nadeem, and Muhammad Umar Habib) contemplated on what this means for Pakistani readers and consumers of fiction, the possible dangers that these novels engender, and the condition of Pakistani literature. The session was moderated by Dr Maryam Wasif Khan.

At the book launch of Peezada Salman’s first collection of Urdu poems “Waqt”, Syed Nomanul Haq and Iftikhar Arif had an intriguing discussion with the author. In the parallel session ‘Is life worth living? Finding hope in Pakistan’, Dr Murad Moosa and  Dr Ayesha Mian discussed the details with moderator Zarrar Khuhro. Zambeel dramatic readings presented ‘Safar Kahani’, an adaptation from ‘Reserve Seat’ by Intizar Husain and ‘Aik Shauhar ki Khaatir’ by Ismat Chughtai. It was performed by Asma Mundrawala, Fawad Khan, Shama Askari. At the book launch of Osama Siddiqui’s “Snuffing out the moon”, Muneeza Shamsie and Maniza Naqvi had a discussion with the author.

In the session on Rendering Karachi on the page: HM Naqvi was in conversation with Marvi Mazhar on the selected works of Abdullah the Cossack, which is first launch event for this book. In the session “Shaeri main nayee Eejaad (New sensibility in Urdu poetry), it was discussed that different ethos emerged in Urdu poetry as a new kind of poetry began to appear with Azra Abbas and Afzal Ahmed Syed in the lead and including Tanveer Anjum and other poets. Azra Abbas, Afzal Ahmed Syed and Tanvir Anjum defined and recalled the change as they recited selected poems and conversed with Asif Farrukhi.

At the session “The Pakistani startup ecosystem: Possibilities & Challenges”, Tez Financial Services Co-founder Naureen Hyat, Dawaai.pk founder Furquan Kidwai, Tapmad.com Founder, CEO Yassir Pasha and moderator Planet N Founder and CEO, Nadeem Hussain of Planet N discussed the current economic position & challenges of Pakistan. In the parallel session “Education as ideology”, Tania Saeed, Dilshad Ashraf, Ali Usman Qasmi, and Anushay Malik discussed how public and private school Urdu and Pakistan Studies textbooks inculcate statist narratives despite numerous studies calling for change. Education policy in the early 2000s improved things somewhat, but ideological content continues to be the thrust of national and provincial government educational policies. The session was moderated by Ali Raza.

In the light mode session “Buss bhai bus ziyada baat nahin chief sahib” Fasi Zaka and Nadeem Farooq Paracha (NFP) did a casual and humorous retrospective of NFP’s career in cultural commentary focusing on urban pop culture and the interplay of TV, film, and music with socio-economic drivers. At the book launch of Tariq Khosa’s “Inconvenient Truths – Pakistan’s Governance Challenges”, Harris Khalique, Niaz Ahmed Siddiki had a detailed discussion with the author. The session was moderated by Huma Baqai.

At the ‘EACPE documentary film screenings and awards’ Khusro Mumtaz, Muqeem Khan had a detailed discussion with the moderator Sibtain Naqvi. In parallel sessions there were book launches of Shazaf Fatima Haider’s ‘A firefly in the dark’, moderated by Afia Aslam and Sabyn Javeri’s ‘Hijabistan’ moderated by Nimra Bucha.

Harris Khalique had an interesting conversation with Mustansar Hussain Tarar. In the session ‘From passive to pro-active: Promoting media literacy in Pakistan it was discussed that the importance for media consumers to develop the critical thinking and analytical skills needed to demand a more responsible, ethical and professional media. Tasneem Ahmar  Javed Jabbar, Zarrar Khuhro, Wusatullah Khan discussed the details with moderator Farieha Aziz.

In the session ‘A tribute to Fahmida Riaz’, Anis Haroon, Attiya Dawood, Najma Manzoor, Ameena Saiyid discussed old memories with the moderator Asif Farrukhi. In the parallel session ‘Karachi of the 1950s and 1960s’ Ghazi Salahuddin, Maniza Naqvi, Dr Sher Shah Syed again discussed old memories with the moderator Kamran Asdar Ali.

The Urdu mushira included Inam nadeem (Moderator), Osama Ameer, Waheed noor, Kashif ghayer, Nasira zuberi, Harris khaliq, Fazil jamili, 8. Tasnim Abidi,  Ajmal siraj, Tanvir anjum,  Ahmad naved, Humera Rehman, Fatema hassan, Sarwar javed, Khawaja Razi haidar, Afzal syed, Naseer Turabi, Pirzada Qasim, Anwar Shaoor, Kishwar Nahid, Iftikhar Arif (sadr).

 

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir)  Governor Sindh, Imran Ismail said that the current government wants to promote literary activities. “Doors of Governor House Sindh, Karachi are open to all literary events and government will extend cooperation in this regard”. He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the first Adab Festival Pakistan, the 3-day literary event being organized at Sindh Governor House, Karachi.  

“Through Adabfest we want to create a new Silk Route through which all the grandeur of our traditions and culture, literature and the arts, expressed through every language in the country, can travel out of obscurity to join the world’s assemblage of cultures and their luscious fruit”. These thoughts were expressed by Ameena Saiyid OBE, SI, Chevalier des Ordres des Arts et des Lettres, Founder and Director Adab Festival Pakistan, at the inaugural ceremony of first Adab Festival Pakistan.

The Adab Fest will be held on 1, 2, 3 February 2019 at the Sindh Governor House Karachi, the historic location where Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah took his oath as Governor General on 14 August 1947, and where he lived and died. Entrance is from the main gate on Aiwan e Sadar road. On most days entrance into the Governor House is not allowed except for Sundays when it is open to the public, but for Adab Fest the Governor House is open to the public for from 2 pm to 9 pm on Friday, 1 February, and from 11 am to 9 pm on Saturday and Sunday, 2 and 3 February.

Ameena Saiyid said that we want to celebrate all that has already been achieved, and also to encourage and boost creativity in all its luminous forms. From the bards of Balochistan to the storytellers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the modern-day writers of Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, from the rich traditions of Punjab and Sind, and the unopened treasure chests of Gilgit Balochistan, we hope to coax more and more manifestations of talent in culture and inspired research. We wish to nurture and promote them. Indeed we would like to create a new Silk Route through which all the grandeur of our traditions and culture, literature and arts, expressed through every language of this country, can travel out of obscurity and insecurity to join the world’s assemblage of cultures and their luscious fruit.

In his inaugural speech, Founder & Director of Adab Fest Asif Farrukhi said that the inauguration ceremony marked the culmination of a long process of tribulations and challenges. He recalled that Ameena Saiyid persisted with the planning in odd places including the cafeteria of the Sindh High Court, “as we were determined to make the best of this opportunity and not to be hectored or pressurized.” It was the pleasure of dealing with books and working with authors and poets which kept alive the spirit. He paid rich tributes to the recently deceased poet Fahmida Riaz and reciting her verses, she remained a guiding spirit”.

On Getz Pharma’s partnership as the Lead Sponsor of AdabFest, CEO Getz Pharma Khalid Mehmood in his speech said “Literature and heritage is the soul of any nation. Ameena sahiba and Asif Sahab have done a great service to this nation by founding these literary festivals. As one of our main CSR areas, we encourage these events because they go a long way in building a more tolerant, well informed and educated country.” 

At the inaugural ceremony, the ‘Adab Festival Pakistan Getz Pharma Fiction Prize’ was awarded to Kamila Shamsie for her book “House Fire”. The short-listed names of Bina Shah, Kamila Shamsie, Mohammed Hanif, and Zarrar Said. 

After the launch ceremony, Nasim Zehra’s book “From Kargil to the Coup: Events that shook Pakistan” was launched. The session panel included Hameed Haroon, Najmuddin Shaikh, Gen (R) Waseem Ghazi, Shahid Amin, Ahmed Rashid with the author and was  moderated by Mosharraf Zaidi.

In the background on Supreme Court of Pakistan’s order for all encroachments to be removed from Karachi within 15 days, the session on “Karachi: Encroachments & Demolitions” had a panel that included Faisal Siddiqui, Iftikhar Ali Shallwani, Muhammad Toheed, Noman Ahmad and it was moderated by Rumana Husain.

Another interesting session “Contextualizing Feminism” it was discussed how are women’s empowerment, autonomy, human (including sexuality and reproductive) rights, and economic justice reflected in the work of panelists Fatema Hassan, Hani Baloch, Maheen Usmani, Maniza Naqvi, Saira Shah Halim, Severine Minot, and panel chair, Fawzia Afzal-Khan.

In the session “The doors of perception: Accessing the unseen in Islamic tradition”, Professors Nur Sobers-Khan, Waleed Ziad, and Francisco Luis engaged in a discussion on ihsan and the esoteric traditions in Islam, touching on topics ranging from aesthetics, the perception of beauty, dream interpretation, Islamic psychology, spiritual travel and wayfaring, divine energy, and meditative practices.

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) Every year, the city gets its much-needed intellectual and cultural treat in the form of the annual Karachi Literature Festival (KLF). Much awaited each year by the literati and the people of Karachi, this year’s edition is going to be a special Ten Year Celebration of the event. Happening on 1, 2, and 3March 2019, at the Beach Luxury Hotel as usual, the event will mark KLF’s ten successful years of being the leading literary festival of the city and spawning other such festivals celebrating the written word in different cities across Pakistan.  

The KLF organisers, Oxford University Press (OUP), have announced the names of the Advisory Board members who will be part of the 10^th edition of the festival. The Advisory Board comprises prominent writers, poets, and literary figures including Muneeza Shamsie, Bina Shah, Iftikhar Arif, Ahmed Shah, Mujahid Barelvi, Salman Tarik Kureshi, and Michael Houlgate (Director Sindh and Balochistan, British Council).

Arshad Saeed Husain, Managing Director, OUP, while sharing his views about the upcoming festival said, “For the 10^th edition of KLF, we have created an Advisory Board comprising personalities from different literary fields in order to embrace diversity and inclusion in the society. The members will oversee the festival programming and selection of speakers as well as curate various sessions. The 10^th KLF will feature, not only literary works and poetry, but also the fine arts, culture, and the performing arts. Our society is youthful and most of those who throng this annual celebration are young. Therefore, KLF 2019 will have the overarching theme ‘The Focus is Tomorrow’. It will explore emerging trends, new concepts, and the impact of social media and technology on books, literature, publishing, reading, and our lives in general. The KLF Urdu Literature Prize for 2019 sponsored by Infaq Foundation will be awarded at the inauguration ceremony of the Festival.”

Talking about her long association with KLF, the literary critic, Muneeza Shamsie said, “I am delighted to be a part of Advisory Board for the KLF’s 10th Anniversary, which is a great milestone for our literary culture and indeed, a celebration of the written word. It is good to be with, and exchange ideas with a team, which has worked assiduously to bring this festival together. It has also been a privilege to have participated in KLF as a guest speaker, since its inception and to watch it grow and develop and inspire other literary festivals in Pakistan too.” 

“Over the years, KLF has successfully provided an accessible and intellectual space to the citizens of Pakistan. Through discourse and discussions, the Festival cultivates literary values, cultural diversity, and a sense of inclusion. This year is going to be no different as KLF aims to bring together not only the stalwarts of Pakistan’s literary world and academia but also some of the most creative minds beyond Pakistan’s border. I wish to congratulate KLF on completing its ten successful years,” said the eminent Urdu poet Iftikhar Arif.

The first Karachi Literature Festival kicked off in 2010 and drew over 5,000 visitors. Continuing the heritage of the literary event, OUP expects a footfall of more than 200,000 at this year’s KLF.

Following its ten-year tradition, the festival will have free entry and will be accessible to people in an open and participatory manner. It will include vibrant literary sessions, panel discussions, talks, readings, interviews, book launches, Urdu mushaira, English poetry readings, film screenings, performing arts, and book fair. And, as usual, there will be the pleasure of BaateinMulaqateinwith leading intellectual figures and amongst all those who attend.

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) “Adab Festival Pakistan (Adab Fest), opening at 315 pm on 1 February 2019, is a tapestry of literature and culture that will promote and nurture talent in writing, research, music, art, dance, theatre, etc. We want to make this a movement throughout Pakistan and get other people to organize their own festivals, and we will try to help them do so in whatever way we can” These thoughts were expressed by Ameena Saiyid OBE, SI, Chevalier des Ordres des Arts et des Lettres, Founder and Director Adab Festival Pakistan, at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club today.

The Adab Fest will be held on 1, 2, 3 February 2019 at the Sindh Governor House Karachi, the historic location where Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah took his oath as Governor General on 14 August 1947, and where he lived and died. Entrance will be from the main gate on Aiwan e Sadar road. On most days entrance into the Governor House is not allowed except for Sundays when it is open to the public, but for Adab Fest the Governor House will be open to the public for from 2 pm to 9 pm on Friday, 1 February, and from 11 am to 9 pm on Saturday and Sunday, 2 and 3 February.

Ameena said that they had rented the YMCA across the street to ensure plentiful parking for those coming in cars, and that Careem will be offering 15% discount off their fares to a maximum of Rs 80 per ride, to anyone using the promotional code AdabFest to come and go from Adab Fest.

Ameena Saiyid said that in addition to building strong linkages with academia including LUMS, Habib University, and IOBM. Adab Fest’s programme also encourages youth reading, (a book culture), youth imagination, and achievements, through, for example, a session on P. G. Wodehouse, a film screening about young women mountain-climbers (the Unknown Mountaineers), a student-run session on Umera Ahmed, the launch of Shazaf Haider’s a Firefly in the Dark and Oborne’s cricket book, a session on media literacy, among others. The audience will experience literature in diverse Pakistani languages, book launches, talks, interviews, discussions, mushairah, a book fair, music, dance, theatre, comedy/satire, and film.  Over 140 Pakistani and international authors, artists, intellectuals, and media personalities will participate. An audience of around 100,000 is expected to celebrate not just ideas, debate and creativity but also community and public space.

In his comments, Founder & Director of Adab Fest Asif Farrukhi emphasized the inclusive nature of the event and the broad scope, covering many languages, several forms of writing through celebrating the established writers and highlighting new publications to be launched during the programme. He said that “the voice of the writer, the poet, the intellectual is becoming increasingly marginalized and through such festivals this voice can be brought back to the mainstream. Important literary trends and social issues will come up for discussion offering a feast of intellectual delights”.

On Getz Pharma’s partnership as the Lead Sponsor of AdabFest, CEO Getz Pharma Khalid Mehmood said “Literature and heritage is the soul of any nation. Ameena sahiba and Asif Sahab have done a great service to this nation by founding these literary festivals. As one of our main CSR areas, we encourage these events because they go a long way in building a more tolerant, well informed and educated country.” 

The ‘Adab Festival Pakistan Getz Pharma Fiction Prize’ long and short lists were also announced at the press conference. The long-list includes A. K. Asif (Hell ! No Saints in Paradise), Bina Shah (Before She Sleeps), Kamila Shamsie (Home Fire), Mohammed Hanif (Red Birds), Osama Siddique (Snuffing out the Moon), Sadia Abbas (The Empty Room), Sheheryar Sheikh (The Still Point for the Turning World), Sabyn Javeri (Nobody Killed Her), Zarrar Said (Pureland). The short-list includes Bina Shah, Kamila Shamsie, Mohammed Hanif, and Zarrar Said. 

The organizers have issued a statement that they are no longer using the name ‘Pakistan Literature Festival’ because Oxford University Press filed legal proceedings against them temporarily restraining them from using this name for such a festival. They are rigorously contesting such legal proceedings but since there is no legal restraint against holding literature festivals, they have decided to hold it in the name of the  Adab Festival Pakistan (Adab Fest).

Inauguration keynote speakers are Dr Ishrat Husain, Arfa Zehra, and Dr Vali Nasr.  Closing keynote speakers are Ahmed Rashid, Haseena Moeen, and Peter Oborne. Over 140 speakers will be participating at the AdabFest including Mustansar Husain Tarrar, Iftikhar Arif, Kishwar Naheed, Mohammed Hanif, Zehra Nigah, H M Naqvi, Raza Rumi, Harris Khalique, Fawzia Afzal-Khan, Baela Raza Jamil, Kamran Asdar Ali, Tariq Khosa, Javed Jabbar, Attiya Dawood, Hameed Haroon, Salim Raza, Nadeem Husain, Peter Pannke, Stefan Weidner, Craig Murray, Richard Heller, Ian Vaughan-Arbuckle, Nasim Zehra, Yaqoob Bangash, Nimra Bucha,  Maniza Naqvi, and Zarrar Khuhro.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Depilex College of Cosmetology hosted the third Graduation Ceremony on the 16th of January, 2019 under the patronage of Punjab Skills Development Fund.

The spectacular event was attended by Ms. Masarrat Misbah, CEO Depilex and Mr. Jawad CEO PSDF where the third batch of 200 beauticians were awarded with their certificates under the scholarship program in collaboration with Punjab Skills Development Fund. The program aims to provide free of cost beautician courses to the low-income women of Pakistan, focused on professional make-up, hair dressing and skin aesthetics.

“It is an incredible feeling to see the third batch of women graduating from Depilex College of Cosmetology, ready to start a new chapter in their lives.” stated Masarrat Misbah, the founder of Depilex Group of Companies while speaking at the occasion. “The one thing I don’t do is give up and this is the one lesson I’ve learnt in my life that don’t ever let those few people that put you down dictate your life and your goals, do not for one second doubt yourself based on the opinions of some, do not let them cloud your vision, always believe in yourself and know there will be dark days but you must pick yourself up and strive to accomplish your dreams.

With this ceremony, Depilex College will be marking a new milestone having exceeded their goal to educate and train 600 underprivileged women free of cost in 2018

WorldRemit research shows that switching from offline into digital remittances could free up a further $825 million for education worldwide

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir)  New research from the digital money transfer service WorldRemit shows hundreds of thousands of Pakistani children are in school, have access to books and educational supplies, and are more likely to study and less likely to work due to international remittances.

Pakistan is one of the top 10 remittance recipients worldwide, and received $21 billion in remittances in 2018.

These findings were calculated using data from UNESCO, the World Bank, and Pakistan’s latest national household survey. Approximately 220 million children in low and middle-income countries are not in school around the world. Of these, 19 million live in Pakistan, one of the highest numbers of out-of-school of children in the world.

Key results include:

• 450,000 children in Pakistan are in school as a result of receiving international remittances
• School age children in Pakistan are 40% less likely to attend school if their household receives remittances
• Remittance-receiving households spend more on education — equivalent to a child’s set of school-books for the year
• Children in remittance-receiving households spend less time working on non-school activities, freeing up more time for school studies

WorldRemit also calculates that globally, if traditional, cash-based money transfers were replaced by lower-cost digital alternatives, an additional $825 million would be unlocked for families to spend on children’s education. Savings from “going digital” could pay for the equivalent of 20 million school uniforms, 30 million school books and 16 million sets of school supplies for children in low and middle income countries.

Hamza Islam, Country Director, Pakistan, at WorldRemit said: “As millions of children in Pakistan go back to school this term, our research is a timely reminder that the contributions of the diaspora are vital to the education of 450,000 children across the country. Switching to digital remittances would help maximise that even further.  

With global remittances predicted to rise in 2019, this means even more children are set to benefit.”

WorldRemit is one of the leading digital money transfer companies for the Pakistani diaspora. Customer surveys reveal that education is one of the top priorities for Pakistanis living abroad, with many saying they support the schooling of children back home.  

WorldRemit customers complete 1.3 million transfers every month from over 50 countries to over 145 destinations.

Visit the WorldRemit website for more information on how to send money to Pakistan with just a few taps on your phone. We have also created a micro-site for readers to find out more about the research WorldRemit has conducted around the impact of remittances on education:  

https://educationmatters.worldremit.com/

Methodology  

• According to UNESCO, there were over 50 million children of school age in Pakistan in 2017.  According to our examination of Pakistan’s 2015-6 Household Integrated Income and Consumption Survey, 37% of children aged 5-18 in Pakistan are not in school – nearly 19 million children.  The same survey suggests that children are 40% less likely to be out of school if they are in households which receive remittances, and that this applies to approximately 8% of children in Pakistan.
• The World Bank estimates that the total value of international remittances was $689bn 2018. The average cost of digital remittances across the industry is 27% cheaper than offline remittances, according to World Bank data. If all remittances were digital, this would save $14bn, which would raise expenditure on education by $825 million based on 5.7% of household resources typically going to education in the 4 countries surveyed for this study.       

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Darsaal, one of the biggest online infotainment Portal of Pakistan announces one of the World’s Biggest and Online English to Urdu and Urdu to English dictionary, Words’ meanings, Synonyms and interpretation of the uncommon words.

“Darsaal.com” in a press release stated that it provides the Urdu and English definition, Word Origins, Audio Pronunciation, Slang Phrases, Idioms, legal and medical terms online free.

For all the professionals and the students who want to learn English to Urdu online, the Pakistan’s one of the biggest portal provides both English to Urdu as well as Urdu to English words translation with search option.

You can find the related words easily on one platform for free. The most authoritative language tool available for the Urdu Language for the Subcontinent Urdu speaking to learn English to Urdu and vice versa.

One of the biggest online English to Urdu dictionary for the students and professional to find the meanings and the related terms of the daily use. We are updating our dictionary for helping the millions of people to enhance their English to Urdu language with the free dictionary services online.

Here you may find the collection of words and specific meaning of the word.

Darsaal provides the world’s smartest and fastest dictionary and thesaurus. Find meanings, definitions and word origins; which helps you with writing, spelling and grammar.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir)  “The first Adab Festival Pakistan in partnership with Getz Pharma will be held on 1, 2, 3 February 2019 at the Sindh Governor House Karachi”. This announcement was made by Ameena Saiyid OBE and Asif Farrukhi today at the launch press conference of AdabFest 2019 at the Karachi Press Club where esteemed members of the electronic and print media were briefed by the founders about the main features of the first Adab Festival Pakistan. Details about the Getz Pharma Fiction Prize were also shared.

The organizers of Adab Fest are no longer using the name ‘Pakistan Literature Festival’ because of certain legal proceedings against the organizers, temporarily restraining them from using this name for such a festival. Adab Fest organizers are rigorously contesting such legal proceedings but since there is no legal restraint against them holding literature festivals, they have decided to give it the title of Adab Festival Pakistan (AdabFest).

Addressing the media, Founder & Director of AdabFest Ameena Saiyid OBE said“I am delighted to announce the first Adab Festival Pakistan in Karachi to celebrate authors, writings, artists, access to knowledge, and public spaces.  Hope this becomes a movement across Pakistan”. She further said that Pakistan’s historically rich and diverse literatures and cultures have long been facing challenges, resulting in stifled diversity of expression and in stereotypes which are sometimes internalized. “At the Adab Festival Pakistan the audience will experience literature in diverse Pakistani languages, book launches, talks, interviews, discussions, mushairah / poetry sessions, a book fair, music, dance, theater, comedy/satire, and film.  Over a hundred Pakistani and international authors, intellectuals, and media personalities will be participating in the Adab Festival Pakistan. An audience of around 200,000 from the widest cross-section of society is expected to celebrate not just ideas, debate and creativity but also community and public space”, she added.

While expressing his thoughts, Founder & Director of AdabFest Asif Farrukhi stated,“With the new year begins a series of year long festivals of literary and cultural celebrations. We want this to be a regular series of events located in as many cities of the country. We want to highlight and celebrate the depth and diversity of Pakistan’s many languages and literary traditions. Our literature and authors are the best news that is coming out of Pakistan and we want the world to be as excited about these writers as possible. Let the celebrations begin”.

On Getz Pharma’s partnership with AdabFest, CEO Getz Pharma Khalid Mehmood said “We are a Pakistani pharma company and we strongly feel that the health of a nation depends not only on a healthy body but a healthy mind and a healthy soul. Without literature, art and a dialogue carried out in a democratic civil manner, the nation’s body will not have a healthy soul nor a healthy mind. It is because of this that we are supporting the Adab Festival being led by two known personalities, Ameena Saiyid and Asif Farrukhi, who have a track record of creating & inspiring many festivals throughout the country.”

The Keynote Speakers at the 1st AdabFest will include Dr Ishrat Husain,Arfa Zehra, Peter Oborne and HaseenaMoeen.Over 100 speakers have so far confirmed their participation at the AdabFest including Mustansar Husain Tarrar, Iftikhar Arif, Kishwar Naheed, Mohammad Hanif, Zia Mohyeddin, Zehra Nigah, Anwer Maqsood, H M Naqvi, Harris Khalique, Fawzia Afzal-Khan, Baela Raza Jamil, Kamran Asdar Ali, Tariq Khosa, Javed Jabbar, Attiya Dawood, Hameed Haroon, Salim Raza, Nadeem Husain, Richard Heller, Ian Vaughan-Arbuckle, Nafisa Shah, Nasim Zehra, Omar Shahid Hamid, Yaqoob Bangash, NimraBucha, Veerta Ali Ujan, Zarrar Khuhro.

Maritime Study Forum Conducted the closing ceremony of 1st Maritime Winter School 2018, in Maritime Museum Karachi. Parliamentary Secretary For Ministry of Maritime Affairs Mr Jamil Ahmed Khan attended the ceremony as chief guest.

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir)  The Maritime Winter School – 2018 or MWS 18 is an initiative of Maritime Study Forum in collaboration with Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) and National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA). The school aimed to map the researchers in Maritime Affairs throughout Pakistan. The school spanned over 5 days, that is from 23rd – 27th of Dec, 2018.

14 Participants from different and diverse backgrounds such as Blue Economy, Maritime Environment, Maritime Security, Maritime Archaeology etc attended the school. 

Lead Researcher of MSF, Dr Najam elaborated the conceptual framework, importance and objectives of MWS18 and what were the outcomes of the school. He presented different ideas and opportunities which came forth during the exercise.

Dr Azhar Ahmed, Senior Board Member of MSF concluded the school with his candid remarks and feedback about the participants and showed his satisfaction towards the overall outcome and told the audience that this exercise will be revised in Summer as well. 

Vice Admiral (R) Asaf Humayun enlighted the audience with the importance of Maritime Domain and how it can change the course of history for Pakistan. He stressed upon the continuous research in the domain of Maritime Affairs.

Chief Guest of the ceremony Capt Jamil Ahmed, Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Maritime Affairs in his key note address told the audience about the effects of “sea blindness” and how Pakistan despite being one of the maritime nation couldn’t harness the potential to it’s maximum use. He showed a commitment and resolve to engage research forums such as Maritime Study Forum to give inputs on the matters pertaining to Maritime Affairs which can become part of legislation, policy and rules of business at policy level. He also told that this govt is committed to the idea of Maritime University and Maritime bank.

President MSF Dr Syed Muhammad Anwer thanked the participants, chief guests and other guests that they showed keen interest in a domain which is rather in its infancy stage. He urged upon the need of building connections between policy makers and academics and how Pakistan can make maximum use of minds working in Maritime Domain.

The chief guest presented the participants and Panelists with certificates and shields.

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