Razi Ahmed
Ahmed is a leading advocate for arts, culture, and intellectual engagement in Pakistan.
Through the Lahore Literary Festival, he has played a transformative role in reviving Lahore’s literary and artistic legacy and elevating Pakistan’s cultural presence on the global stage.
In 2025, the French government honored Ahmed with the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honor)—one of France’s highest distinctions. He joins an esteemed list of past recipients, including Meryl Streep, T. S. Eliot, and Bill and Melinda Gates. He has also received recognition within Pakistan for his contributions to cultural development.
Under his leadership, LLF has attracted three Nobel laureates, Booker and Pulitzer Prize winners, and globally influential voices, making it one of the premier literary events in South Asia. His commitment to restoring Lahore’s stature as a literary and intellectual hub was instrumental in UNESCO designating it as a Creative City of Literature in 2019—a distinction that acknowledges its rich literary heritage and contemporary creative expression.
Beyond Lahore, LLF has expanded onto the global stage, holding annual editions in New York at the Asia Society and in London at the British Library, further strengthening Pakistan’s cultural and literary connections with international audiences.
LLF and Ahmed’s work have been extensively covered in leading international media outlets, which have praised the festival’s role in showcasing Pakistani talent, hospitality, and cultural vibrancy. LLF has been hailed by the BBC, The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Al Jazeera, AFP, The Indian Express, Gulf News, Monocle, The New Statesman.
In addition to his work with LLF, Ahmed has written for both local and international publications, including the Journal of Heritage Management, published by Ahmedabad University, India.
Ahmed has a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of Chicago, and a master’s degree from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University.
He currently serves as Chairman of the Lahore Arts Council (Alhamra), furthering his role in shaping Pakistan’s cultural and artistic landscape.
Updated on Feb. 7, 2025