When you look at the map of Pakistan, the province of Balochistan pops up with its geographical expanse. But where – and how big – is it in the imagination and conscience of ordinary citizens of this country?

There is an anecdote that I share with friends. A friend, who is a social development expert, recently addressed a large number of post-graduate students of a university in Lahore. One question he posed to them was: can you name three cities of Balochistan, excluding Quetta? He told me that no one could.

But I feel overwhelmed by the reality as well as the enigma of Balochistan as I write these words. This is so because I had the good fortune of participating in the Pakistan Literature Festival (PLF) held in Quetta on Wednesday and Thursday this week. And this column is an attempt to portray some aspects of an incredible experience.

In itself, a literature festival is not something to write home about. It is a matter of routine in our major cities. But the very idea of holding it in Quetta in these troubled times would be forbidding. However, the fact that it happened and on such a big scale is remarkable.

Its success was underlined not just by the excitement it generated among the youth, with the presence of literary, show business and media luminaries. The highlight was the candid discussion it provided on very difficult and sensitive issues.

To conceive and then design and execute such an ambitious project would not be easy. It goes to the credit of Mohammad Ahmed Shah, president of the Arts Council of........

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