World Punjabi Congress announces 36th International Conference on folk tales and message of love in Lahore
Babushahi Bureau
Lahore (Pakistan) | January 24, 2026: The World Punjabi Congress (WPC) has announced that its 36th International Conference, titled “The Folk Tales of Pakistan and the Message of Love,” will be held on January 24 and 25, 2026, at the Pak Heritage Hotel, Lahore.
The two-day international conference will focus on the rich tradition of Pakistan’s folk tales, with sub-themes including similarities among folk narratives, the historical evolution of folk tales, their progressive interpretations, and the role of national languages in strengthening Pakistan’s national integrity.
The announcement was made during a meeting attended by senior WPC members, including newly appointed President Tariq Khursheed, along with Zia Chawla, Ms. Saeeda Deep, Baba Najmi, Dr. Sughra Sadaf, Mumtaz Rashid Lahori, Prof. Muhammad Abbas Mirza, Anees Ahmad, Mian Habib Ullah, Dr. Asma Hassan Sheikh, Khalid Ijaz Mufti, Rizwan Gill, Muhammad Jamil, M.R. Shahid, Zaki Zaidi, and Rehmat Masih.
Fakhar Zaman, Chairman of the World Punjabi Congress, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to hosting back-to-back international conferences each year, stating that the 36th conference will be the first major WPC event of 2026. He said the conference aims to promote cultural harmony, peace, and the literary heritage of Punjab and Pakistan.
The conference will feature four academic sessions, during which intellectuals, writers, professors, scholars, and poets from across Pakistan—including participants from Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh—will present research papers. A Mushaira has also been scheduled on the concluding day, while folk singers will perform at the end of each session.
Prominent personalities including Prof. Dr. Shahid Imran, Vice-Chancellor of Baba Guru Nanak Dev University; Dr. Nizamuddin; Hussain Naqi; Nazir Qaiser; and Ilyas Ghumman will attend the conference as Chief Guests.
Meanwhile, Punjabi Khojgarh has announced that it will confer a Lifetime Achievement Award on Fakhar Zaman in recognition of his lifelong contribution to the promotion of Punjabi language, culture, and literature, during the 36th International Conference.