ISLAMABAD, Sept 3: A three-day International Conference on ‘Contemporary American Literature’ concluded here on Saturday. The event was organized by National University of Modern Languages (Numl) in collaboration with Higher Education Commission (HEC) and American embassy aimed at creating awareness among the concerned about the rich cultural diversity of American Literature.

Prof Dr Zhang Baojun from China, Dr E.F. Pamakrishnan from Nepal, Dr Imah Agang Emenyc from Nigeria, Dr Rubina Kamran, Dr Dharamdas M. Shende, Numl Rector Brig (retired) Dr Aziz Ahmed Khan, Dr Saeeda Asadullah Khan, Dean Numl, shed light on different aspects of American Literature.

The participants also highlighted the positive role of gender sensitivity and urged them to get education which was necessary for the socio-development of the country.

The emerging creative literature took up the vital concern of the times; shrinking of the individual’s role in a seemingly chaotic and mechanistic world.

A large number of students, faculty members, representatives of various NGOs and foreigners were present on the occasion.—APP

Our staff reporter adds: Federal Education Minister Lt-Gen (retired) Javed Ashraf Qazi on Friday emphasized the need for learning English language by students in the country.

He was speaking on the second day of conference.

“English is no longer a language restricted only to Englishmen as it has achieved the status of lingua franca of the countries world over,” the minister said.

At present, research work in all disciplines is being done in English, and to make students ready for future challenges, it is imperative to learn this language, he said.

He asked students to learn English as it was necessary for their as well the country’s development.

The ministry has already made English compulsory at primary level in Islamabad’s schools, he said.

The minister said a lot of contribution had been made by Americans and Chinese towards popularizing English language.

The first speaker in the morning session of the conference was Dr Riad Ismat, Syrian ambassador to Pakistan, who read out his paper on “Tennessee William in Damascus: A Director’s Approach”.

The second speaker was Prof (Dr) Lu Wei of China. Her speech was mostly devoted to Chinese-American literature with special reference to writer Fac Myenne.

Dr Geeta Khadka, a delegate from Nepal, presented her paper on “Introduction to language poetry”.