PESHAWAR, June 4: Railways Secretary Ijaz Ahmad Qureshi has pledged to spare no effort for the amelioration of the Hindko language, adding that the Gandhara Hindko Board played a significant role in bringing Hindko works to the fore.

He said this at a meeting held in connection with the launching of two books — Kulyat-i-Sain Ahmad Ali and Diyar-i-Dil, written by the late Ahmad Saleem Nawaz Qureshi, Mr Qureshi’s father.

The first book is a collection of verses of the mystic poet of Hindko, Sain Ahmad Ali, which has been compiled by Dr Zahoor Ahmad Awan. The other book is a compilation of over two dozen essays of the late Ahmad Saleem Nawaz Qureshi.

The speakers paid rich tribute to Sain Ahmad Ali and said the poet had a prominent position among his contemporaries.

They also appreciated the work of the Gandhara Hindko Board and Dr Zahoor Awan for compiling the work of the Sain, adding that it would go a long way in popularising the work of the great Hindko poet.

Dr Salahuddin presented his thesis on Diyar-i-Dil. He said the book was actually a compilation of over two dozen essays of the late Ahmad Saleem Nawaz. He added that the book would prove to be an asset for Urdu literature.

He was of the view that Ahmad Saleem was a writer of great stature who skilfully adorned his writings with the couplets of Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib and Dr Allama Mohammad Iqbal.

He said that Ahmad Saleem was a good administrator and a graduate from Aligarh.

He regretted that most bureaucrats and administrators had no taste for literature. “That is why our society is declining by the day.”

Haji Israr of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry was the chief guest. Zafar Naveed Jani, Dr Islahuddin, Ziauddin, Sabir Aman and former NWFP minister Haji Javed also spoke on the occasion.