PESHAWAR: Speakers at a literary event held at the University of Peshawar, here on Friday advised the youth to participate in healthy activities on the campus so as to promote a culture of critical thinking.

The Pohantoon Adabi Stori (PAS), a university- based literary organisation, launched six books to mark its sixth anniversary where a large number of young literati and researchers showed up and shared their views with the participants.

They said that PAS had provided a friendly platform to both male and female students on the campus to present their literary works for critical appreciation and the literary sessions remained a great source of inspiration for the young bards.

“Such a platform on the campus shows that young students are in the safe hands where they not only learn about modern ideas and concepts but also have an opportunity to express themselves confidently,” the speakers said.

Youth advised to participate in positive activities

Two visually-impaired Pashto poets, Habib Nawaz Inqilab and Shahid Ali, recited their poetic pieces and received applause from the audience.

Senior writer Prof Noorul Amin Yousafzai while presenting a review of the newly-published books said that the readers would find new things regarding Pashto folklore, language, culture and poetry penned down by Khadim Hussain, Rokhan Yousafzai, Prof Ali Khel Daryab, Ismail Gauhar, Hanif Qais and Prof Noorul Amin Yousafzai.

“No society can progress without creative and critical thinking. Our youth should develop a taste for participating in such healthy events towards building a modern society,” Mr Yousafzai said.

Speaking as chief guest at the function, noted poet Haseena Gul said that literary and cultural activities on the campus helped young students to develop critical and creative thinking.

She said that PAS had produced many young poets, writers, critics and research scholars in a short span of time under the guidance of Prof Abaseen Yousafzai.

Prof Sherzaman Seemab, general secretary of PAS, said that his organisation had launched its weekly literary sessions in Faqir Eppi Lawn with only five to six participants, but then the UOP VC Prof Rasool Jan allowed them to hold their weekly sessions at Maulana Abdul Qadir Hall in Pashto Academy every Friday.

Prof Yousafzai, the patron-in-chief of PAS, pointed out that he and his young colleagues had launched the organisation to promote quality poetry through literary sessions with an objective to involve young students in positive activities.

Prof Khalid Khalil presented a brief background of PAS and its achievements during the last six years. Noted writers, including Fazal Momand, Afsar Afghan, Shaukat Swati, Rashid Khan and Wijdan Yousafzai, also spoke at the event.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2020