KARACHI, July 11: Federal minister for education, Zobaida Jalal, here on Friday conferred the ‘Kamal-i-Fun’ Award in literature on prominent short-story writer and novelist Shaukat Siddiqui.

A simple ceremony in this connection was held at the Defence Society residence of Mr Siddiqui. The award carried a cash of Rs50,000.

“This is an expression of gratitude by the people of Pakistan to this prominent writer. This is not enough but, this shows we care, we love his work,” the minister said.

She said the ministry of education had taken the initiative in collaboration with the Pakistan Academy of Letters.

Besides the family of Shaukat Siddiqui, chairman of the Pakistan Academy of Letters, Iftikhar H. Arif, and resident director of the Academy, Aga Noor Muhammad were present on the occasion, Mr Siddiqui presented a set of his books to the minister on the occasion.