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LAHORE: The 98th Pakistan Learning Festival (PLF) commenced at the Pakistan Civil Services Academy (CSA), Lahore, on Tuesday with a strong emphasis on peace, climate sustainability and equitable access to education, bringing together a wide spectrum of stakeholders to deliberate on the future of learning in Pakistan.
Co-hosted by the Civil Services Academy, the two-day festival opened with an enthusiastic response, transforming the venue into a vibrant hub of intellectual exchange, creativity and civic engagement.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by prominent figures including Member National Assembly Shaista Pervaiz Malik and DG CSA Farhan Aziz Khawaja, alongside leading writers, educationists, policymakers and practitioners from across the country.
In his opening remarks, Khawaja noted that the festival would feature more than 75 sessions over two days, covering a wide range of disciplines and thematic areas. He expressed satisfaction at the Civil Services Academy’s transformation into an interactive learning environment focused on nurturing the intellectual and professional capacities of children and youth.
He reiterated the shared aspiration of ensuring universal access to quality education, enabling every child in Pakistan to realise their potential.
Baela Raza Jamil, founder of the PLF, formally introduced this year’s theme peace and climate change sustainability describing it as both timely and essential in the context of mounting global challenges. She underscored the importance of equipping young learners with critical knowledge, ethical grounding and adaptive skills to respond to environmental crises while fostering a culture rooted in tolerance and coexistence. She also acknowledged the contributions of the lead sponsor, Bank of Punjab, and a wide network of partners supporting the festival’s mission of advancing inclusive and equitable education.
Ameena Saiyid, adviser to PLF and managing director of Lightstone Publishers, expressed gratitude to key institutional supporters, including Lahore Grammar School, Right To Play, Sightsavers, TeleTaleem, Abacus, Rose Petal, Oxford University Press, FoC Feminista, Maktaba-e-Noor, Signature Writing Instruments, Alif Laila Digital, EdTech, LibXR and Human Appeal for their continued support.
The organisers highlighted that the festival’s strength lies in its collaborative framework, with long standing partnerships involving organisations such as Akhuwat, Alif Laila Book Bus Society, Deaf Reach, Science Fuse, Sanjan Nagar, National Book Foundation and SOS Children’s Villages.
These collaborations, they noted, ensure that grassroots perspectives and community led initiatives remain integral to the discourse on education reform.
