The 13th edition of the Lahore Literary Festival kicked off on Feb. 21 with an opening ceremony featuring a keynote address by historian Ayesha Jalal and brief remarks from various dignitaries, including Patron and Chairman Iqbal Z. Ahmed.
Mr. Ahmed, also the Founding CEO and Chairman of the Associated Group, marked the occasion by praising the LLF’s success in becoming an institution for Lahore in a short span of just 15 years. Referring to LLF Founder and CEO Razi Ahmed, Mr. Ahmed appreciated his contributions to the literary arts, noting the key role played by the LLF in UNESCO declaring Lahore a City of Literature in 2019.
Mr. Ahmed also marked the occasion by announcing that France had recognized the LLF CEO for his contributions to the arts and cultural exchange with its Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters). He observed that the honor, akin to a knighthood in the U.K., underscores the accomplishments of Mr. Razi Ahmed for the literary arts.
Highlighting the significance of the French honor, Mr. Ahmed shared that it had previously been awarded to such cultural giants as author T.S. Eliot; actors Peter O’Toole and Meryl Streep; and musicians Bob Dylan and Quincy Jones. “This is a remarkable achievement,” he declared to applause from the audience.
During the ceremony, Mr. Razi Ahmed expressed gratitude to national and international delegates for their support, stressing that the event would not be possible without them. He also honored scholar Rashid Ahmed and acclaimed writer Ikramullah with Lifetime Achievement Awards, and announced the winners of the Lok Dastan Prize 2025, the third LLF-British Council creative writing contest.
Annually staged in spring, the LLF first opened its doors to the public in 2013. In the 15 years since, it has played host to several literary luminaries, including Nobel laureates Abdulrazak Gurnah, Malala Yousafzai, and Orhan Pamuk. The event has become a mainstay of Lahore’s spring season, drawing tens of thousands annually to its free and open-to-all sessions that strive to expand cultural discourse, both in English and regional languages.