KARACHI: Al-Muftah Award, coming from a cultural forum based in Qatar, was given to noted ghazal poet Anwer Shaoor on Monday.

At a gathering of noted writers including Dr Aslam Farrukhi, Mushtaq Yusfi, Mushfiq Khawaja, Shahida Hasan, Sajjad Mir, Arif Shafeeq, Rashid Noor, Dr Pirzada Qasim and Aniq Ahmad, the chairman of the award committee, Abdul Hameed Muftah, handed over a shield and a sum of Rs50,000 along with the award for the year 2002 to the poet, known for his two poetry collections - Mashq-i-Sukhan and Andokhta. The poet is also popular for his ‘Qata’t’ — versified social commentary published in a city daily newspaper.

The arrangements for the joyful evening were made by Fatima Hasan, a well-known poet and story-writer. She also read out an introductory portion of his sketch which she had written some time ago.

Anwer Shaoor, an outspoken person who never tries to cover up his personal weaknesses, was described graphically by the writer. It was all in good humour, which was highly enjoyed by every one including Anwer Shaoor. Piety and poetry, someone remarked, are rarely seen together.

Abdul Hameed Muftah said on the occasion that the Al-Muftah Award for the year 2003 would be given to famous poet Munir Niazi. He expressed the hope that some other wealthy person would come forward to patronize creative writers and artists, thus enriching literature in Pakistan. —Hasan Abidi