The 2025 Gwadar Book Fair, which started on February 13, is currently in its third day on Sunday. The event, held at the RCD Council Hall, has drawn participants from across Balochistan and Pakistan. This year, the book fair, which is organized by the Rural Community Development Council (RCDC), has focused on the theme of climate change and its challenges, along with solutions for tackling the issue.
The event kicked off with a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by a cultural showcase featuring folk singers Younas and Deedag Baloch performing with school children. The audience greeted their performances with great enthusiasm. Afterward, the book stalls were opened, offering a wide range of books on various subjects, from literature and science to history and environmental studies.
The Gwadar Book Fair has become an important cultural event in Balochistan. It serves as a space for intellectuals, students, and the public to gather, share ideas, and meet authors and thinkers.
The third of the fair kicked off with a discussion with Agha Sarfaraz Ahmad at around 9:30 in the morning and included various other literary discussions, such as the launch of a book titled A Journey Through Chaos. Pakistani writers Wusat Ullah Khan and Mazhar Abbas were the guests in this session of the program.
At 11 AM, the program titled “Balochistan’s Strategy on the Climate Crisis” was held, with Abdul Rahim serving as the host and Ahmad Rafay Alam as the guest speaker. Following this, another program focused on “Mubarak Qazi’s Poetry and Its Significance in Balochi Literature” took place, with Professor Dr. Ghafoor Shad and Zarniad as the distinguished guests. The session was hosted by Imran Hasil.
After that, a discussion on “The Importance of Mother Tongue in Creative Literature” was held, with Fatima Hassan and Inam Nadeem participating. The session was moderated by Maqbool Nasir. Sunday’s program will continue until 8:30 PM, and Monday will mark the final day of the Gwadar Book Fair 2025, featuring more discussions, programs, and the launch of various books.
The fair has attracted strong local support, especially from the youth and women. For many, particularly young girls, this festival offers the rare chance to engage in intellectual discussions and purchase books — an opportunity that has historically been limited due to lack of access to literature and educational resources. The event has provided a vital platform for discussing the future of Balochistan and the role of education in shaping it.
However, despite its success, the fair takes place in a politically charged environment. As Mariyam Suleman Anees, a Gwadar native and writer for The Diplomat, noted in a recent blog post, the festival is a hopeful celebration of knowledge but also a reminder of the fragile nature of intellectual spaces in Balochistan. The government crackdown on such events has been an ongoing issue. For instance, the Baloch Students Action Committee’s (BSAC) recent “Balochistan Kitab Karwan”, which organized book stalls as part of a wider campaign to promote literature and education, was met with harsh resistance. Authorities raided the event, accusing the students of possessing books that were seen as “anti-state.”
Anees, who has long been a strong advocate for education in Balochistan, highlighted how, despite the risks involved, festivals like the Gwadar Book Fair continue to thrive. But this success is bittersweet. The act of gathering around books and discussing ideas in Balochistan carries both promise and danger. In a region where even possessing certain books can lead to arrest, the fair remains a symbol of both hope and vulnerability.
In her blog, Anees described how such intellectual gatherings, while crucial for the growth of ideas, often face obstacles. The crackdown by authorities, including the detention of students and confiscation of books, reflects the ongoing challenges in Balochistan. Despite these setbacks, the people of Gwadar and wider Balochistan continue to show strong support for the fair, demonstrating their resilience and determination to foster a culture of education.
Many have noted that as the Gwadar Book Fair enter its final day, it stands as a testament to the people of Balochistan’s commitment to education and intellectual freedom. The event has been a success, despite the challenges it faces, proving that the spirit of knowledge and cultural pride in Balochistan remains strong.