Sindh to partner with OUP for education reform as Karachi Literature Festival draws large crowds

Sobia Khan

Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday announced that the provincial government will collaborate with Oxford University Press (OUP) to implement an education programme aimed at improving learning outcomes and strengthening teacher capacity across the province.

Speaking at the Karachi Literature Festival (KLF), the chief minister said OUP had developed the “Oxford Education Programme for Sindh”, which the government plans to roll out in partnership with the publisher.

“We will be collaborating with Oxford University and implementing this programme to improve learning outcomes for the students of Sindh and to empower our teachers with the skills and resources they need to shape the future,” he said during his inaugural address.

Referring to the festival’s theme, Literature in a Fragile World, Mr Shah described literature as a stabilising force that promotes pluralism and critical thinking. “Time spent with books is never wasted. Literature is to create, question and illuminate,” he added.

Packed second day at KLF

The second day of the festival drew large crowds to the Beach Luxury Hotel, with panel discussions, book launches and cultural events taking place across multiple venues.

Sessions covered education, literature, culture, public policy and the economy, while a tribute to renowned Baloch poet Atta Shad highlighted the festival’s focus on regional languages and literary heritage.

Several book launches attracted attention, including 32 Onkar Road by Syed Shabbar Zaidi and Voices of Valour: A Tribute to Christian Defenders of Pakistan by Noel Khokhar. Other discussions featured scholars and writers such as Walid Iqbal, Nasir Abbas Nayyar, Sam Dalrymple and Sara Malkani.

Policy, economy and reform debates

Panels addressing national issues linked literature with governance and public policy. Economists and policymakers, including Dr Ishrat Husain, Asad Umar and Miftah Ismail, discussed economic reform, institutional restructuring and regional dynamics.

Dr Husain emphasised the need to reduce reliance on raw materials and imports. “You have to invest in steel, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and lithium batteries, and move towards services,” he said.

In a separate session on economic restructuring, Muhammad Ali, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation, said structural reforms were essential. He called for better documentation of the economy, broader tax reforms, women’s workforce participation and stronger local governments.

Culture and youth engagement

Cultural programming added variety to the festival, with discussions on Sufi traditions, storytelling, cinema and fashion. Filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy said the Sindh government and Karachi mayor had committed to establishing a Citizens Archive Museum in the city.

The Youth Pavilion hosted student performances, robotics sessions, literacy activities and workshops, alongside discussions on inclusion and education for children with disabilities.

A session on women’s representation in print culture also stressed the importance of archiving history and preserving local narratives.

The day concluded with a film screening and a traditional mushaira, reinforcing KLF’s position as one of Pakistan’s largest literary and cultural gatherings.

About OUP in Pakistan

Oxford University Press, one of the world’s largest university publishers, operates in more than 50 countries and publishes in over 90 languages. Its Pakistan arm, established in 1952, focuses on school textbooks, academic works and reference materials, while supporting local authors and educational development.