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Press Release: The Department of English and Literary Studies (DELS), School of Liberal Arts, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, successfully concluded Literary Carnival Week S2026, a five-day celebration of literature, creativity, research, performance, and intellectual engagement held from 18th to 22nd May 2026.

The week opened with an engaging book talk by renowned dramatist, novelist, and columnist Amna Mufti on “Urdu Literature in the Era of AI”. The session, hosted by Ms. Mah-e-Nao, explored the impact of artificial intelligence on literature, creativity, women, and contemporary life. Dr. Rahat Bashir delivered the opening remarks on behalf of Dr. Bushra Siddiqui, COD.

Throughout the week, DELS organized a diverse range of academic and creative activities, including poster presentations, a 3-Minute Thesis Competition, dramatic monologues, poetry recitation, theatrical performances, literary discussions, and career-oriented sessions. The 3-Minute Thesis Competition, organized by Dr. Muhammad Numan, Assistant Professor, DELS, SLA, provided students with an opportunity to present their research ideas with clarity, confidence, and precision within a challenging three-minute format.

The week also featured insightful sessions by distinguished speakers. Dr. Muhammad Safdar from UCP reflected on the relevance of literature as a career in the age of AI and markets, while Dr. Hassan Zafar and Mr. Faraz Najeeb engaged students in meaningful discussions on workplace ethics, professional development, emotional intelligence, and career possibilities for literature graduates. These sessions highlighted the continuing importance of literary studies in shaping critical thinking, empathy, communication, and professional adaptability.

Creative and performative expression remained at the heart of the Carnival. Students participated in the Character Monologue Slam organized by Mr. Turs Mohi Ud Din, performances under the supervision of Ms. Amina Mehmood, poetry recitation organized by Dr. Rizwana Sarwar, and poster/project presentations by BS and MPhil students. These activities demonstrated that literature is not limited to the written page but lives through voice, performance, interpretation, and public expression.

The final day included a theatrical performance organized by Dr. Shazia Anwer, followed by a thought-provoking talk by Dr. Osama Siddique titled “Why Fiction Matters in Troubled Times: Literature, Empathy, and Social Reconciliation”. His session offered a fitting conclusion to the week by emphasizing the role of fiction, creative writing, experimentation, and literary imagination in responding to social and intellectual challenges. Drawing attention to the reading, shape, material, and meaning of fiction beyond conventional page-bound forms, the talk invited students to think of literature as a space of empathy, reconciliation, and creative intervention.

The closing ceremony celebrated the collective efforts of faculty members, students, presenters, performers, organizers, and volunteers who made Literary Carnival Week S2026 a vibrant success. The week reaffirmed DELS’s commitment to promoting literary culture, research communication, creative expression, interdisciplinary dialogue, and student-centered learning.

Literary Carnival Week S2026 concluded with the spirit that literature remains deeply relevant in a world shaped by artificial intelligence, markets, social change, and human struggle. It continues to remind us of empathy, imagination, reflection, and the enduring power of stories.