ISLAMABAD: Independence Day programmes organised by the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) will commence on Monday.

The programmes, featuring various literary topics, will continue till Aug 16.

Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood will inaugurate the opening ceremony online at 12:20pm in the PAL conference hall. The ceremony’s themes are Tehreek-i-Pakistan, Tashkeel-i-Pakistan, Takmeel-i-Pakistan and Ahl-i-Qalam.

Prof Fateh Mohammad Malik will preside over the ceremony and guests of honour are Kishwar Naheed and Zahida Hina. PAL Chairman Dr Yousuf Khushk will present the introductory note. Dr Khushk said that 228 writers from Pakistan along with poets and scholars from 17 other countries will participate in 21 different online events.

“This will be the longest literary celebration by PAL, in connection with Pakistan’s Independence Day,” he added.

Dr Ehsan Akbar, Jabbar Mirza, Dr Abdul Aziz Sahir, Dr Qazi Abid, Haroon Al-Rasheed Tabassum, Zia-ud-Din Naeem, Ahmad Ataullah, Dr Mohammad Ali Manjhi, Dr Rashid Hameed, Dr Basira Umbreen and Dr Hanif Khalil will also speak at the ceremony. Dr Abid Sial will moderate the programme.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2020