KARACHI: The Adab Festival`s eighth edition will be held on Nov 10 at Habitt City from11amto 10pm, the organisers announced at a press conference on Wednesday.

A range of programmes and events-spanning art, literature, thought-provoking discussions, debates, and book launches-are scheduled to take place at the festival. It is free and open to all.

Ameena Saiyid, founder and director of the Adab Festival, announced that going forward, a one-day Adab Festival will be held annually in different cities, replacing the previous multi-day format.

Speaking on the festival`s purpose, Ms Saiyid said, `Adab Festival is a new Silk Route through which our traditions, culture, literature, and the arts can travel and reach people`s hearts across Pakistan and the world. Through this festival, we want everyone in the community to love, experience, and enjoy books and literature.

She added that the event is `designed to develop critical thinking in people, challenge dominant discourses in society, nur-ture alternative viewpoints, and provide fertile ground for creative exchange.

The festival will open with a play by Khaled Anam and his Grips Theatre group and will close with a show by Anwar Maqsood.

The annual Adab Festival/Infaq Foundation Awards will be announced for the best writings in Urdu, English, and, forthe first time, Sindhi.

Ms Saiyid thanked the festival`s partners-the Sindh government, Goethe Institut, Vgotel, Institute of Business Management, Habib Metropolitan Bank, the British Council, Magnus Investments, and Habitt Karachi-for their support in organising the event.