PESHAWAR: In an effort to promote Urdu literature among youth, a vibrant poetry recitation session was held in Hafizullah Auditorium of Khyber Medical University here the other day.

The session titled “Hum Sukhan Fehm Hein” was jointly arranged by Human Care Foundation (HCF) and directorate of youth affairs, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The students of KMU, medics and faculty members attended the annual event in a large number.

Urdu poets from Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa attended the mushaira in a large number. They enchanted a capacity audience with their inspiring, soul-stirring poetry and turned the evening into a memorable celebration of classical and modern Urdu poetry.

The event was chaired by veteran Urdu poet and scholar Iftikar Arif while Tufail Ahmad, the station director of Radio Pakistan Peshawar, was chief guest on the occasion.

The participating poets included Busrha Farrukh, Aziz Ejaz, Abbas Tabish, Akhtar Usman, Ahmed Hussain Mujahid, Rehman Faris, Shamsher Haider, Ambreen Salahuddin, Sajid Rahim, Ammar Iqbal, Prof Ishaq Wardag, Maisam Naqvi, Shahid Iqbal and Umair Mushtaq. Each poet received thunderous applause and repeated demands for more couplets as they mesmerised the audience with the depth and beauty of their verses.

Students want literary events held frequently on campus

Addressing the gathering, Iftikhar Arif recalled the glorious literary past of Peshawar. He paid rich tributes to legendary literary figures, who once enriched the city’s cultural landscape, including Ahmad Faraz, Khatir Ghaznavi, Reza Hamdani, Hamza Khan Shinwari, Ghani Khan and Qalandar Momand.

He stressed the need for reviving that rich tradition and connecting the new generation with the timeless beauty of Urdu poetry.

Hameed Rahi, a student of Khyber Medical University, told this scribe that he and his colleagues found the event a great relief from their hectic study sessions. “Such literary and cultural activities provide a much-needed break and help in the holistic development of students,” he added.

He urged the university administration and youth affairs department to arrange such events more frequently on the campus.

Organisers of the event Mohammad Salman and Fawad Ahmad and their team members were appreciated for their efforts to arrange such a grand event.

The mushaira concluded with a lavish dinner hosted in honour of distinguished guests, poets and participants. Guests were also given commendation shields.

The participants lauded the successful holding of the event as a significant step towards reviving and strengthening Urdu’s literary tradition in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They expressed the hope that such initiatives would continue to flourish, playing a vital role in preserving Pakistan’s rich cultural and literary heritage while engaging youth in meaningful artistic pursuits.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2026