Sham-e-Afsaana (An Evening of Storytelling)

Sham-e-Afsana is conceived as an intimate and meaningful literary evening dedicated to the art of Afsana (short story) a powerful and realistic genre of literature rooted in verisimilitude, social truth, and lived experience. Historically, the afsana has played a vital role in shaping literary discourse and social consciousness across South Asia. Through concise yet profound narratives, it has challenged injustice, questioned norms, and amplified marginalized voices.

Unfortunately, in recent times, afsana as a genre has been increasingly ignored due to rigid traditional mindsets, declining reading culture, and unnecessary barriers faced by writers. Today, afsana is in search of its real readers and audience. The Pakistan Writers Forum, through Sham-e-Afsana, aims to revive this genre by promoting local literature and arts. Afsana is written in all local languages of Pakistan, making it one of the most inclusive and accessible forms of literary expression. It is also a form of written activism, where complex and sensitive issues reach the masses through the lens of both the victim and the survivor.

This session is free and open to all. Just visit the venue to attend it.

The Black Hole
Plot 5H, Street 100, G-11/3, Islamabad.
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