Faiz Ahmad Faiz celebrated at Bradford Literature Festival 2025

ISLAMABAD: The British Council and the Faiz Foundation Trust joined hands to bring the spirit and legacy of celebrated Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz to the forefront at this year’s Bradford Literature Festival (BLF) in the United Kingdom, offering UK audiences a glimpse into the enduring power of his poetry and vision.

According to a press release issued by the British Council, BLF is renowned for championing diverse voices and narratives and its three bespoke sessions honoured Faiz’s life, work, and enduring relevance — showcasing his literary influence across poetry, music, and visual arts.

We’re proud to have partnered with the Faiz Foundation Trust and @BradfordLitFest to bring the powerful voice and legacy of Faiz Ahmed Faiz to UK audiences
This collaboration is part of our commitment to connecting artists and audiences across 🇵🇰 and 🇬🇧#Arts #BLF #Faiz pic.twitter.com/nOPXiLdOd2

— British Council Pakistan (@pkBritish) June 30, 2025

“We’re proud to provide an opportunity for people to hear more about Faiz Ahmad Faiz, said Country Director of British Council Pakistan James Hampson.

“New collaborations, building on old connections between the UK and Pakistan will showcase our shared cultural heritage. Introducing established and new talent from Pakistan to British audiences is important to us and we’re pleased to be supporting Bradford 2025 – UK City of Culture.”

Moneeza Hashmi, Media Expert and Faiz Foundation Trustee added: “My father, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, has always been a poet beyond borders, speaking to the hearts of people across cultures and nations. Now, through the Faiz Foundation, we’re taking his legacy across the world, sharing his poetry and ideals with broader audiences.”

BLF sessions on Faiz Ahmad Faiz

Dramatic readings and music: An evening with actors and Faiz’s grandchildren, Adeel and Mira Hashmi, blended live dramatic readings of his poetry with soul-stirring ghazals performed by Priti Kaur.

Art and memory: A conversation between artist and curator Salima Hashmi, broadcaster Moneeza Hashmi, and academic Prof. Saeed Khan explored how Faiz’s verse has inspired generations of visual artists.

Poetry of resistance: A panel connecting Faiz’s message of justice and solidarity with global poets like Pablo Neruda, Mahmoud Darwish, Nizar Qabbani, and Preti Taneja.

Additionally, the Faiz Ahmad Faiz-themed events were complemented by a powerful Qawwali performance by Najmuddin-Saifuddin Qawwal, bringing the mystic Sufi tradition to the UK stage.

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According to the British Council, the collaboration is part of the wider arts programming for Bradford 2025 – UK City of Culture, where the council is supporting ground-breaking new work by Pakistani artist Meherunnisa Asad, whose installation for Wild Uplands is already drawing attention across national UK media.

It added that through these initiatives, the British Council continues its commitment to bringing artists and audiences together from Pakistan and the UK to share and exchange creative ideas — fostering mutual understanding and showcasing the richness of contemporary Pakistani culture on the world stage.