KARACHI: A collection of articles about Pakistan’s songwriters engaged with the film industry in past and present times was launched on Thursday at the Pakistan Arts Council.

With noted poet Hemayat Ali Shaer in the chair and famous music composer Nisar Bazmi as the chief guest, the book has been compiled by Zakhmi Cawnpuri and sponsored by Al-Qalam Pakistan.

Prof Saher Ansari, TV producer Amir Imam, broadcaster Hashmat Jaffery and veteran actor Talat Hussain were among the speakers who admired the writer for the compilation work.

Hemayat Ali Shaer, in his presidential address, acknowledged the work as a good reference book. Film writers, he said, were always kept aside and not included in the main stream of writers. However, the book compiled by Zakhmi Saheb had

literary value. By doing so well, he had combined together literary prose and film writing, he said.

Nisar Bazmi valued the book for its authentic historical account, spread over almost fifty-five years, starting from Arzoo Lucknawi and Soofi Tabassum to present-day poets. Prof Saher Ansari, while appreciating the book, pointed out some inaccuracies in the text and hoped those will be removed in the next edition.

Shafiquzzaman did the compering.—HA

Opinion

Editorial

Doctor attacked
09 Jun, 2026

Doctor attacked

AN act of reprehensible violence has shaken the medical community. On Saturday, an employee of the Provincial Civil...
AJK flare-up
Updated 09 Jun, 2026

AJK flare-up

The situation started deteriorating after a trader affiliated with the JAAC was reportedly shot in an altercation with law-enforcers.
Fault lines
09 Jun, 2026

Fault lines

THE April 8 ceasefire that halted hostilities between Israel and Iran has encountered its most serious test yet....
Soft on traders
08 Jun, 2026

Soft on traders

THE Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for traders with an annual turnover of up to Rs200m has been designed as a ‘pragmatic...
Ceasefire in name
Updated 08 Jun, 2026

Ceasefire in name

Both sides accuse the other of violating the truce that was supposed to halt the conflict in April, yet neither appears willing to abandon negotiations altogether.
Damaged childhoods
08 Jun, 2026

Damaged childhoods

CHILD abuse is so prevalent that the UN ranked Pakistan as the least safe country for children. Even so, more than...