PESHAWAR, Nov 18 A low-profile but attractive regional awards ceremony was held at the Pakistan Television centre here on Tuesday night.

Amid terrorist attacks, the event proved a sharp departure from grief that has literally worried everyone in the provincial capital. Presence of those people who are known in areas of art, literature, sports and music encouraged the organisers and participants equally.

Prof Mohammad Azam Azam, Mumtaz Ali Shah, Younas Qiasi, Prof Nazir Tabbassum, Qamar Zaman, Wadood Manzar and Nasiruddin Mohmand gave away awards to the best performers on the occasion. Award recipients in all 28 categories received clapping from the gathering for their hard work. Khan Bahadur and Samina Sehar were adjudged as best performers in plays aired by the PTV Peshawar centre during the year 2008. They were cheered up by all at the tiny venue. Javaid Babar and Musarat Malik received awards for best supporting roles in plays.

Ejaz Khattak got best producer award for children's programme, Aziz Ejaz for documentary, Ejaz Ahmed Niazi for music, late Alamzeb Aamir for magazine programme, Abdul Qayyum Hoti for drama series and Nisar Mohammad Khalil for drama serials. Best drama series writer award was received by Anisur Rehman and drama serial award was given to Khursheed Iqbal.

Crooners Sardar Khan Fana and Hina Siddiqui received shields. Mast Khan got award for music composition. The award for best makeup artiste went to Nasir Khan, best Qari to Mohammad Bahadur, Naatkhwan Amanullah, engineer (mixing) Fazal Wadood, engineer (IT) Ahmed Ali, designer Aamir Raza, compere Shafqat Huma, cameraman Abdul Qayyum while technical award was grabbed by Mirza Asif Beg.

Head of still photography section Mir Ahmed Shah and security officer Mir Ghawas also received awards.

In the past, the awards ceremony took place in open space inside the PTV centre but the security situation forced the organisers to take it to the recording studio this time.

On the occasion, Majeedullah Khalil, general-manager PTV Peshawar centre, said that awards meant to motivate people to further improve their work. “There should be programmes aiming to spread awareness among people. Our work should showcase the local culture. We should concentrate on education of the people through the medium of television,” he said.

Awards were intertwined with songs by Mahjabeen Qazalbash, Tariq Hazarvi, Tanveer Afridi, Sitara Younas, Ghazala Mohmand, Zek Afridi, Amirzeb, Afraz Ali Syed and Sonia Khan. The songs proved a breath of fresh air for the participants.