Lahore: The Department of English at Forman Christian College (A Chartered University) recently concluded the 3rd International Connecting Voices Conference (CVC2026), focusing on equitable experiences in linguistics, language, and literature. The event, which spanned two days, was attended by scholars from various regions of Pakistan and international participants, fostering a platform for dialogue on critical issues related to equity and representation in literary and linguistic discussions.
According to Forman Christian College, the conference featured a robust agenda that included 222 registered participants with over 181 presenters, distributed across more than 28 parallel sessions. The event also hosted two specialized roundtable panels on literature and linguistics and included workshops, poster presentations, and a book launch. Notably, the conference showcased digital and oral history projects in collaboration with the National History Museum and the Forman Computer Science Society. A special session dedicated to Japanese literature was organized in partnership with the Pakistan Japan Cultural Association.
The conference drew contributions from five national speakers representing various provinces of Pakistan, alongside four international experts from esteemed institutions including Cornell University in the USA, University of Bremen in Germany, University of Leeds in the UK, and Franklin University of Switzerland. This gathering aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 10, emphasizing linguistic justice and the inclusion of diverse voices, particularly those from the Global South.
The success of CVC2026 was supported by organizations such as the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC), Women Development Department, Aligarh Books, Anne-Marie Schimmel Haus, and the Pakistan Japan Cultural Association. The organizers extended gratitude to all presenters, participants, and collaborators who contributed to the conference's meaningful discussions.