ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) on Monday announced cash awards amounting to Rs5 million for 21 writers and poets.

Moreover, prominent writer and novelist from Balochistan Munir Ahmad Badini was nominated for Kamal-i-Fan Award 2018.

This was announced by PAL Chairman Dr Yousuf Khushk at a press conference after an online meeting of the Kamal Fan Award committee.

The panel of judges consisted of writers and scholars Masood Ashar, Prof Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, Noorul Huda Shah, Prof Dr Rauf Parekh, Qazi Javed, Dr Nasrullah Khan Nasir, Mohammad Ayub Baloch, Noor Mohammad Khan Hasni, Dr Salma Shaheen, Nasir Ali Syed, Mohammad Hasan Hasrat and Haris Khalique.

Prominent novelist from Balochistan Munir Ahmad Badini nominated for Kamal-i-Fan Award

The Rs1 million Kamal-i-Fun Awardis the highest literary award in creative and research work.

Dr Khushk also announced the National Literary Award for the year 2018 given on the best literary books written during the year in Urdu and other Pakistani languages.

He said according to the decision of different panels of judges for Urdu prose Saadat Hasan Manto Award (creative literature) was given to Hasan Manzar’s book Jhijak, Baba-i-Urdu Molvi Abdul Haq Award (criticism and research) to Dr Tahseen Firaqui’s book Nikat, Urdu poetry Dr Allama Mohammad Iqbal Award was given to Zahera Nigahon on Gul-i-Chandni, Syed Waris Shah Award (Punjabi poetry) was given to Rai Mohammad Khan Nasir’s book Hadak.

Afzal Ahsan Randhawa Award (Punjabi prose) was given to Ahmad Shahbaz Khawar’s book Ghunnu, Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai Award (Sindhi poetry) was given to Wafa Nathan Shahi’s book Aayo Jhol Bhare, Mirza Qaleech Baig Award (Sindhi prose) was given to Zaib Sindhion’s book Äakhri Manhoo, Khushhal Khan Khattak Award (Pushto poetry) was given to Afrasiab Khattak’s book Nawe Tegh, Mohammad Ajmal Khan Khattak Award (Pushto prose) was given to Dr Qazi Hanif Ullah Hanif’s book Pashto Shairi Ke Sainsi Shaoor O Izhar.

Mast Tawakli Award (Balochi poetry) was given to Inayatullah Qaumion’s bookBiya Kapoot Vish Na Lagen. Syed Zahoor Shah Hashmi Award (Balochi prose) to Akbar Barakzaion’s book Zaban Zantiu Balochi Zaban Zanti, Khwaja Ghulam Fareed Award (Seraiki poetry) to Mohammad Zaheer Ahmad’s book Alla, Dr Maher Abdul Haq Award (Seraiki prose) was given to Hafeez Khan’s book Adh Adhoore Lok, Taj Mohammad Tajal Award (Brahui poetry) was given to Syed Ali Mohammad Shah Hashmi’s book Khushboo Na Safar, Ghulam Nabi Rahi Award (Brahui prose) was given to Imran Fareeqon’s book Aeno Hum Khuda Khushe, Saeen Ahmad Ali Award (Hindko poetry) was given to Syed Saeed Gilani’s book Pepul Vitere.

Khatir Ghaznavi Award (Hindko prose) was given to Nazeer Bhatti’s book Sham-i-Alam, Pitras Bukhari Award (English prose) was given to Fatima Bhutto’s bookThe Run Aways, Daud Kamal Award (English poetry) was given to Sara Javed’s book Meraki, and Mohamamd Hasan Askari Award was given to Naseem Ahmad/Dr Iqbal Afaqi on their translation of Falsafa-i-Tareekh.

An amount of Rs200,000 will be given to each of the award winners.

Dr Khushk said writers think only for humanity beyond religion, race, language and region.

There will be no prejudice in real writing and no society in the world can truly be called honourable unless it values the creators, he said.

He said PAL continues to acknowledge the services of writers and every year a series of awards is announced for the best books written in Pakistani languages.

He said PAL under Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training and National Heritage and Culture Shafqat Mehmood and Federal Secretary National Heritage and Culture Inamullah Khan will prepare the “Hall of Fame” and “Literary Museum of Pakistani Languages” at PAL.

“In addition, work is underway for the Pak-Turkish literary festival and international conference in collaboration with the China Writers Forum,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2020