PESHAWAR: Speakers at a function have called upon youth to promote cultural and literary activities through their talent and motivate others to fight against social evils including abuse of drugs, lack of education and militant thinking.

They said that youth needed to create opportunities for themselves.

The event was organised under the auspices of Hamza Jamshid Production, a private firm in collaboration with a TV channel here at a local hotel.

A large number of students, artists and art lovers attended the function.

The main objective of the event was to confer Fakhr-i-Pakhtunkhwa award on artists, writers and social activist for their contributions to their respective fields including art, literature, sports, music, education, social activism, politics and business.

13 get Fakhr-i-Pakhtunkhwa award in different fields

Around 13 awards were given away in different categories at the ceremony.

The speakers said that youth should exhibit their talent and also create space for others and instill in them the spirit to serve the society in a positive manner.

Hamza Jamshed, chief of the HJ Production, said that a year ago he along with his colleagues launched the Fakhr-i-Pakhtunkhwa award show to encourage and celebrate people from a wide range of fields who had been contributing to the society in one way or the other.

The trio of Bakhtiar Khattak, Hamza Jamshed and Afsar Afghan conducted the show in a befitting manner where a number of local folk singers also performed and received applause.

Bakhtiar Khattak on the occasion said that Fakhr-i-Pakhtunkhwa award was in fact an initiative to showcase the contributions of both senior and young artists, literati and individuals from other walks of life.

“The basic aim is to motivate young talent to come forward to help build a purposeful society and remove social evils through their gifted capacity. Fakhr-i-Pakhtunkhwa award provides a motivational force to bring up the talent,” he said.

Prof Abaseen Yousafzai, Noorul Amin Yousafzai, Rokhan Yousafzai and Laiqzada Laiq got the awards in the category of literature while Dilraj, Humayun Khan, Shahid Malang in the singing slot and Arman Siraj and Salar Khan received the awards as motivational speakers.

Almas Khanum, a young woman from Malakand, was given away the award for her unique art of stitching up images of eminent Pakhtun heroes.

Naureen Shama grabbed the award for her sports contributions.

Fajar Farhan, a noted social activist from Swat, was also among the recipients of the award.

She said that the award would help many young artists and activists to bring up their talent. She added that the organisers of the initiative should continue to motivate young talent.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2020