PESHAWAR: A beautiful blend of literature, thought and creativity came to the fore at China Window Peshawar when All Pakistan Writers Welfare Association (Apwwa) organised a dignified launching ceremony of an Urdu fiction book.

The book of short stories titled ‘Doobtay Chaand Ka Akhree Manzar’ (the last scene of the setting moon) has been written by renowned fiction writer Prof Asiya Bibi.

The session was presided over by prominent literary figure Prof Khalid Suhail Malik. A large number of distinguished personalities from literary, educational, and social circles attended the event.

Expressing detailed views on the book, Aziz Ijaz and Prof Qudratullah Khattak presented a comprehensive and well-reasoned analysis, highlighting the intellectual and artistic aspects of the stories.

Launching ceremony held at China Window

Renowned critic Aamir Hasrat, in his critical remarks, praised the author’s style, themes of stories and symbolic expression.

Similarly, Lubna Naveed, Aslam Mir, Robina Mueen, Faiza Shehzad and Sajid Ali also shared their thoughts, describing the book as a meaningful reflection of contemporary social and psychological issues.

Robina Mueen emphasised that writers should present women not as a “delicate gender” who wept and sighed, but as “iron entity” being strong and resilient.

The presence of Hazrat Ali, secretary of Mardan Education Board, further strengthened the connection between educational and literary circles.

He proposed that at book launch events, participants should purchase and read books rather than the author distributing them for free of cost. “It would encourage writers and support literary sustainability,” he added.

Other speakers said that the book was not only a welcome addition to Urdu literature but also a mature creative identity of a sensitive pen.

The author, Asiya Bibi, stated that she had crafted into the form of stories whatever she had felt.

She said that she became deeply saddened to see social injustices and violence faced by women around her. She said that she transformed those very feelings into her fiction.

In her stories, instead of romance and love, the realities of real life were brought to the forefront, she added.

Irfan Khan, a member of National Youth Parliament, presented a bouquet of flowers to Asiya Bibi.

At the end, Naz Parveen, provincial general secretary of Apwwa and host of the event, thanked participants of the session.

She expressed the hope that literature would continue to highlight social awareness and human emotions.

She also invited writers to hold their literary events at China Window, assuring them of full administrative support.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2026