PESHAWAR: The provincial directorate of culture on Wednesday launched its first-ever cultural e-magazine titled ‘Yoon’ (walk).

The magazine launching ceremony was held in the auditorium of the directorate.

MPA and parliamentary secretary of culture Zahid Durrani was the chief guest on the occasion, where poets and writers of different languages were in attendance.

Giving a presentation, language and literature expert Akbar Hoti said the e-magazine would have quality contents produced by literati from across the province.

He said online readers would enjoy different pieces on variety of aspects of the province’s culture and traditions.

Expert says periodical to present KP’s beautiful image to the world

“Writers and poets speaking different languages will be encouraged to explore interesting aspects of KP culture, which will get a boost by the magazine’s launch,” he said.

The event was opened with the show-reel of the e-magazine followed by presentations on contents and designing of the online quarterly.

Regarding the title of the e-magazine, Mr. Hoti said the word ‘Yoon’ was commonly used in four different languages.

“In Pashto, it means walk, while in Palola, Ashojo, and Torwali languages, it means moon,” he said.

The expert said the Yoon’s first edition had contents in four languages including Pashto, Urdu, Hindko and English and that other languages of KP would also be accommodated in the subsequent editions.

“Not only literary topics will be discussed in the e-magazine but also other elements of KP culture - performing art, visual art, and crafts and research articles will also be included in the contents of e-magazine,” he said.

Prof Abaseen Yousafzai, who was present on the occasion, event welcomed the publication and said it would improve cohesion among KP languages and would help poets, writes, and research scholars to float new ideas regarding the province’s cultural identity.

He said the e-magazine would also provide quality contents to the people living abroad.

“The e-magazine will present a beautiful image of our province to the entire world,” he said.

Noted researcher Qari Javed Iqbal said all KP languages would get an opportunity for promotion.

He said poets and writers of Hindko would find a better place to express themselves.

“The e-magazine will prove a milestone for KP’s young literati. KP is rich in cultural diversity. The new e-magazine will prove a window to look into the beauty of our multicultural province,” he said.

Senior expert on Torwali language Zubair Torwali said he was happy and felt proud at the initiative of the directorate of culture.

He said it would help expose the cultural diversity of KP.

“Yoon will attract new writers and scholars from across KP to paint soft image of land and people of the militancy-plagued province,” he said.

Mr. Durrani later distributed certificates among writers and those who contributed towards the designing of Yoon.

The current issue of the e-magazine is from January to March 2017. It is available on the website of the KP culture directorate and can be downloaded from there.

Published in Dawn February 16th, 2017