LAHORE: The Pride of Punjab Award turned down by Seraiki poet Riffat Abbas has now been conferred on known poet from southern Punjab, Shakir Shujabadi.

The award carrying a cash prize of Rs300,000 has been announced by the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture (Pilac) on behalf of the Punjab government.

Literary and cultural circles have appreciated the decision of the committee that announced the award for Mr Shujabadi.

Pilac Director General Dr Sughra Sadaf said that the award had been initiated to promote language and culture and given to towering personalities from art, culture and literature. The award ceremony is scheduled to be held on March 23.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2017