ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: For the first time in the history of Pakistan the birth anniversary of Pakistan’s world renowned poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, is being celebrated officially on January 12.

The anniversary is being celebrated under the auspices of the Department of Film and Publications, information ministry at the National Library Auditorium.

The department announced that it had compiled Faiz Ahmed Faiz Number of Maha-i-Nau.

During dictator Gen Ziaul Haq’s regime, Pakistan’s distinguished poet and winner of Soviet Union’s highest award “Lenin Award”, had to undergo self-exile in London and Beirut. For several years Faiz was the editor of the PLO’s literary magazine Lotus. During his stay in Beirut, Faiz wrote some of his best lyrical writings and ghazals.

Mushtaq Ahmed Yusufi, well-known for his chaste and subtle humorous writings will preside over the anniversary celebrations. Faiz’s son-in-law Shoaib Hashmi, will recite Faiz’s poetry in traditional way.

Speakers include Khwaja Masood, former principal of Gordon College, poet Mohsin Ehsan, former Balochistan minister Tahir Mohammad Khan, noted Punjabi poet, columnist and playwright Munoo Bhai, and former editor of The Pakistan Times and human rights activist I.A. Rehman. The function will be accompanied by an exhibition of painting by calligrapher Aslam Kamal coinciding with the birth anniversary of Faiz and based on his verses.

The function will be followed by distribution of prizes.

The second session will be devoted to musical performance.

Three singers Nayyara Noor, Mehnaz and Tina Saani will render poems and ghazals of Faiz. All three singers have won great applause for their rendering of Faiz’s poetry.