KARACHI, March 27: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan has announced the establishment of “Koocha-i-Adab” in the city and said that it would be the venue of the traditional international Mushaira next year, arrangements for which would be made by the city government.

He was speaking at a reception hosted by him at the Governor’s House for poets from India and other countries and organizers of the ‘Sakinan-i-Shehr Karachi’ here on Monday.

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal, Provincial Secretary Information Fasihuddin Ahmed, Principal Secretary Saleem Ahmed Khan and other officials were also present.

Appreciating the efforts and role of poets, Dr Ibad said that the government was playing a vigorous role towards the promotion of cultural and literary activities.

The Koocha-i-Saqafat here has already been activated and response thereto has been more than the expectations.

The poets said that like the Koocha-i-Saqafat, Koocha-i-Adab would also be developed, where some 0.1 million people could enter and at least 10,000 could be parked.

Dr Ibad agreed to their proposal and said that from the next year the international Mushaira would be organized at Koocha-i-Adab.

A guest poet from USA informed that the Koocha-i-Adab had been developed in New York, where literary activities were organized. It also has a library for school children, he added.

Another poet from Kohat appreciated the governor’s role with regard to the promotion of literary and cultural activities and said like the invitation extended to a Kohat poet, this gesture should also be shown to other places of the country.

On the occasion, the city nazim assured of all-out cooperation of the city government towards promotion of literary and cultural activities.

The governor desired that a grand Mushaira be organized by the provincial government, during the stay of the guest poets from India and other countries.—APP