PESHAWAR: Poets of different languages showcased their love for Chinese people through their poetic expressions at a captivating literary event held here to mark the national day of China.

The poetry recitation session, attended by prominent poets of English Urdu, Pashto and Hindko, was held at China Window of Peshawar’s Chinese cultural centre. Poets sent a heartfelt message of love and eternal friendship from Peshawar to the people of China through poems.

Mushtaq Shabab, Bushra Farrukh, Aziz Ijaz, Aseer Mangal, Samina Qadir, Khadim Ibrahim, Dr Shahida Sardar, Mohammad Owais Qarni, Gul Arbab and Prof Gulzar Jalal attended the session.

Hosted by Prof Malik Arshad Hussain, the event witnessed beautiful and vibrant expressions of poetry, which artfully wove together themes of friendship, progress, and China’s remarkable development.

For the first time, Pakistan-China friendship was also celebrated through English poetry with Prof Gulzar Jalal and Prof Malik Arshad Hussain delivering their pieces in English. Additionally, poetry in Pashto, Hindko, and Urdu enriched the event, creating a harmonious tapestry of languages and sentiments.

The provincial secretary for local government and rural development, Daud Khan, who was chief guest on the occasion, lauded China Window for the initiative. He said that China Window had organised numerous events during the past six years but the poetry festival marked a milestone in the literary world.

“It has opened a new and important chapter in cultural diplomacy, using poetry to convey a timeless message of friendship,” he said.

He said that besides making immense progress in various fields, China also produced a rich legacy of culture and literature that was recognised globally.

He praised the poets for their eloquence, noting that their verses touched the hearts of the audience and beautifully conveyed the spirit of Pak-China camaraderie.

The secretary emphasised the enduring significance of poetry in the literary traditions of the region, lamenting that the art form had, in some ways, waned over time. He called for a renewed focus on promoting literature, ensuring that future generations remained connected to the nation’s cultural heritage.

He announced to organise another such session under the auspices of local government department.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2024