PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Academy of Letters would soon launch an annual grant-in aid for Abasin Arts Council to carry out its literary activities, said PAL chairman Dr Mohammad Qasim Bughio.

He said a state-of-the-art hall would also be set up in Hayatabad on a plot already acquired for the purpose some eight years ago. “PAL will soon release annual grant-in aid to Abasin Arts Council, Peshawar chapter and also a magnificent hall will be built in Hayatabad for literary activities as soon as sufficient funds are available to us,” he pledged.

He said that honouring literati for their contributions raised their morale and love for the country and its people. The Abasin Arts Council (AAC) conferred awards on writers and poets at a ceremony, held here the other day.

Dr Bughio says annual grant-in aid to be launched for Abasin Arts Council

Dr Bughio was the chief guest at the event organised at Khana-i-Farhang Iran, Peshawar. Senior writer Mushtaq Shabab, honorary secretary of AAC, Syed Ali Yousafi, director Iranian culture centre, and Abdur Rauf Rohaila, patron-in-chief of AAC, were guests of honour at the ceremony. Said Wali Khial, resident director PAL, members of AAC, poets and writers attended the event.

Noted writers, poets and researchers including Arshad Naeem Qureshi, Painda Mohammad Khan, Akhtar Reza Saleemi, Dr Badshah Munir Bukhari, Late Ikramullah Gran, Qazi Manzoor Musakhel, Dr Iqbal Naseem Khattak, Prof Hassam Hur, Sharif Hussain and Bashir Ahmad Soz received cash awards and certificates.

Abdur Rauf Rohaila in his speech congratulated the writers, poets and research scholars on winning the awards and urged them to sharpen their pen for promoting art, culture and literature.

“I believe that writers have great responsibilities towards their country and its masses. You need to chisel your pen power to promote literary taste among people,” said Mr Rohaila.

The honorary secretary of AAC presented a detailed report of the council’s activities and procedure of awarding writers and researchers. He said that AAC conducted various literary activities despite financial constraints just to promote art and literature. He said that Abasin Arts Council would continue its activities in the provincial metropolis to groom up budding and encourage senior literati.

Prof Nazeer Tabassum said that poets and writers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had contributed to art and literature in a befitting manner. He said that AAC always encouraged writers and researchers to produce and create the best for guiding the society to keep up good values and shun evils.

Around 10 Urdu, Hindko and Pashto writers and poets were given cash awards and commendation certificates for their meritorious literary services. The Rahman Baba, Khushal Baba, Maulana Abdul Qadir , Sain Ahmad Ali, Farigh Bukhari, Reza Hamdani, Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar , Mohammad Shafi Sabir, Allah Bakhsh Yousafi and Justice Kiani awards were given in three categories of poetry, prose and research for the 2014-15. The AAC prize included Rs 10,000 and a commendation certificate for each winner.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2016