The 18th Aalmi Urdu Conference (Jashan-e-Pakistan), held at the Arts Council of Pakistan in Karachi, officially concluded its four-day run on December 28, 2025. It was a masterclass in intellectual depth and cultural celebration, proving that the city’s appetite for the written word is stronger than ever.
A Star-Studded Intellectual Hub
The final days of the conference were marked by packed houses. Fans flocked to interactive sessions with screen icons Bushra Ansari and Adnan Siddiqui, who discussed the evolution of Pakistani media. The dialogue was a unique blend of nostalgia and futurism, as scholars debated the impact of Artificial Intelligence on traditional Urdu literature and creativity.
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Honoring the Masters
The emotional peak of the event occurred when Professor Syed Khurshid Hasan Rizvi was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The ceremony was a rare moment of unity, bringing together various literary factions to honor his monumental contributions to Arabic and Urdu scholarship.
Highlights from the Grand Closing Ceremony of the 18th Aalmi Urdu Conference 2025, a four-day journey of enriching sessions, sensational mushairas, & memorable music nights.#ArtsCouncil #ACPKHI #UrduConference pic.twitter.com/wUOq3LxnaE
— Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi (@ACPKHI) December 28, 2025
A Musical Send-off
As is tradition, the conference didn’t just end with a lecture; it ended with a roar. The final night featured the soul-stirring qawwali performance “Aahang-e-Khusrawi” by Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad. Their performance at the YMCA Ground lasted until the early hours, leaving the audience with a profound sense of cultural pride.
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ACP President Muhammad Ahmed Shah closed the event by reaffirming Karachi’s status as the “Art City” of Pakistan, noting that the conference reached millions globally through its digital broadcast, ensuring that the voice of Pakistani literature remains a global one.
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