PESHAWAR: Literary organisations have appreciated the nominations of noted poets, writers and artists for the President’s awards on August 14 for their contributions in their respective fields.

It is pertinent to mention here that awards will be conferred on the nominees on March 23, 2024.

The nominated literati and artists from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa include Prof Aseer Mangal, Dr Ismail Guahar, Aziz Ejaz, Bushra Farrukh, Andesh Shamsul Qamar (late) , Fazal Wahab Dard, Almas Khalil, Gulabkhel, Ajab Gul, Ishrat Abass, Shakirzeb, Humayoun Khan, Amjad Aziz Malik (senior journalist) and Dr Kazim Niaz (senior bureaucrat) .

In a statement, Prof Abaseen Yousafzai presented poetic tribute to all the nominated literati and artists and congratulated them for their services, which proved substantive in earning them covetous civil awards.

Amjad Ali Khadim, general secretary of Niaz Adabi Sangar, in a statement, praised the poets, writers and artists on their nomination for the President’s awards. He said Dr Kazim Niaz besides a senior bureaucrat also served as the patron of his literary organisation founded after the name of his legendary father, Prof Jehanzeb Niaz.

“The nominees, including Prof Aseer Mangal, Shakirzeb and Fazal Wahab Dard, have also served in different capacities for the Niaz Adabi Sangar, and therefore it was a great honour for our organisation to have such personalities on its board,” he added.

Quetta-based noted Pashto writer and scholar Abdul Karim Bariyalai and Lahore-based Pashto film star Ajab Gul were also praised for their nomination for the President’s awards.

Rashid Ahmad Khan, noted folk artist and chief of Artists Welfare Society, in his statement, congratulated the nominees for the President’s awards.

He hoped the KP culture department would also take care of the senior and ailing literary figures and folk artists alongside Afghan artist community based in Peshawar. “There are several artists, who are bedridden and are in need of help and free medical treatment,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2023