PESHAWAR: Speakers at a literary event called upon poets and writers to play their effective role in forging national unity and creating a spirit of national integration among public to foil the evil designs of enemies.
They said that writers played a significant role in the creation of Pakistan by using their talent and had motivated freedom fighters to strengthen their ranks against their opponents.
Khan Badshah Nusrat, assistant resident director of Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL), Peshawar, in his welcome address said that poets and writers could better do the job of educating the people and they should come forward to play their role.
He said that national unity was the need of the hour to strengthen peace and stability in the country.
PAL Peshawar holds function in connection with Pakistan Day
Poets, writers and scholars being asset of Pakistan could guide and lead the youth to serve their national cause and to make it a prosperous, developed and powerful country and also protect its ideological basis from being eroded, they said.
The PAL, Peshawar chapter, arranged the event in connection with the Pakistan Day celebrations at its office here on Saturday. Poets and writers attended the function.
The speakers said that poets and writers supported the cause of the county’s freedom and ignited a spark among the Muslims of the subcontinent through their powerful writings to rise up for the independence of Pakistan.
They said that history was witness to the unflinching efforts of the literati for the great national cause.
Chairing the event, noted writer Malik Arshad Hussain said that Allama Mohammad Iqbal had spearheaded the caravan of poets and intellectuals towards achieving Pakistan and his writings were still a model for others to follow.
Senior poet Prof Aslam Taseer stated that KP poets and writers had carried out their responsibilities in a befitting manner in the light of Quaid-i- Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s vision of unity, faith and discipline. He said that the masses were educated towards a better society to compete in the world.
Young poet Amjad Ali Khadim said that responsibilities of the writers had increased owing to rapidly changing geopolitical situation and they were required to use their inborn talent to advocate unity, peace and harmony. He said that Pakistan was home to diverse cultures enjoying glorious history spread over thousands of years.
Senior writers including Aziz Ejaz, Dr Abdul Sattar Lawaghari, Yousaf Ali Dilsoz, Shahab Banusai and Akhtar Nangiyal also addressed the gathering. Later, a multilingual mushaira was held in which poets Humayun Hamdard, Mohammad Ali Khattak, Ilyas Thalwal and Asmat Sorani read out patriotic pieces.
Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2019
