LAHORE: (Thursday, October 15, 2026): Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr. Muhammad Ali has emphasized that mutual respect and regard for others were essential for living a peaceful and fulfilling life. He expressed these views while addressing the Literary Festival 2026, organized as part of Pakistan’s largest book fair at the PU Al Raazi Hall here on Thursday. Speaking on the topic “Mystical Literature and the Concept of the Human Being,” Prof Dr. Muhammad Ali highlighted the importance of promoting literature, knowledge, intellectual thought and creative dialogue. He said the festival aimed to provide opportunities for discussion and the exchange of ideas on academic and literary subjects. He further said that the teachings of the Sufi elders, who guided people on how to live in this world while remaining mindful of the Hereafter, could benefit individuals if put into practice. He said that we should treat one another with equality, respect, and dignity on the basis of our shared humanity, rather than on the basis of official positions or social status. At the literary festival, Mirza Athar Baig engaged in an in-depth discussion on “Fiction, Language and Thought: Celebrating Mirza Athar Baig’s Literary Oeuvre,” while Dr. Osama Siddique spoke at length on “The Past in the Present: Memory, History and Fiction.”