The first Children Literature Children Festival (CLF) is all set to be held on November 25 and 26 2011 at the Children's Library Complex (CLC) Lahore. This was announced by founders of CLF Ameena Saiyid Managing Director Oxford University Press and Head Idara-e-Taleem -O-Aagahi (ITA) Baela Raza Jamil at a jointly organised press conference by OUP and ITA the other day.
Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab Begum Zakia Shahnawaz was the chief guest, while the conference was attended by Chairman Punjab Education Foundation Raja Anwar and ambassador of the CLF and prominent educationist Arifa Syeda. Speaking on the occasion Begum Zakia Shahnawaz said that government of Punjab would provide all possible support for the success of this festival. She said that such type of festivals should be organised in the small villages and cities because such type of activities create habit of reading among the children.
She also said that she will try its best to provide transport to the children during the festival and she will talk to the CM in this regard. She said that education is the top priority of the Punjab government. Managing Director OUP Ameena Saiyid said that CLF is the first literature festival of its kind for the children of Pakistan. She said that books would be available on 20 percent discount in the festival. She said that festival time would be from 10 am to 5 pm.
The aim of the festival is to promote positive activities of reading, creativity and critical thinking among children. Talking about the activities of the exciting two day CLF programme Baela Raza Jamil said that programme will feature talks and readings by popular children writers, which will provide opportunities for the children to listen to their favourite writers.
The festival will provide children an opportunity to attend puppet shows children theatre. There will be a panel discussions for educators on how to use library resources and supplementary readers for developing an interest in children for reading. The organisers also have a plan to have sessions on local languages to popularise mother tongue learning in Pakistan.