ISLAMABAD: Renowned poetess, teacher and civil servant Parveen Shakir’s 28th death anniversary was observed on Monday.

A large number of people gathered at the H-8 graveyard to recite Fateha for her and paid tribute to her meritorious services.

The event was organised by the Perveen Shakir Trust and other departments including the Federal Tax Ombudsman. Renowned writers, poets and other notables were also present at the occasion.

Chairperson of the trust Parveen Qadir Agha, while talking to Dawn, said that officers from the Customs Department paid homage to the leading poet of her service and laid a floral wreath on the grave. A floral wreath was also laid by the office of the Federal Tax Ombudsman.

It is worth mentioning that Parveen started writing at an early age and her first volume of poetry Khushbu was published in 1976. Besides this, her other works include Sad Barg, Khud Kalami and Kaf e Aina. She used to write columns in newspapers, titled Gosha-e-Chashm and was awarded with the Pride of Performance Award for her outstanding contribution for literature.

She worked as a teacher for nine years before she joined the civil service and was appointed in the Customs Department. In 1986, she was appointed as second secretary CBR in Islamabad.

On Dec 26th, 1994 her car collided with a bus near Zero Point because traffic signals were off due to power outage. The accident resulted in her death and the road on which she died was named after her. She married Naseer Ali, a doctor by profession, whom she later divorced. She has a son named Syed Murad Ali.

A unique honour for her was that when she appeared in the Central Superior Services (CSS) examination in 1982, there was a question regarding her poetry in the exam.

Replying to a question, Ms Agha said that a large number of people reached Islamabad to recite Fateha at her grave.

“Even though 28 years have been passed but still people love Paveen Shakir and her poetry is as famous as it was three decades back. She was a true patriot of Pakistan,” she said.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2022