ISLAMABAD, May 23: The Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) has planned to establish a “Writers’ Coffee House” in its head office in Islamabad to provide a meeting point for writers, poets and journalists on the pattern of Pak Tea House, Lahore.

Pak Tea House had become the centre for debate and discussion for literary personalities who had migrated from India in 1947.Saadat Hasan Manto and other writers used to spend hours at the tea house every day.

Chairman PAL Abdul Hameed, speaking to a gathering of literary persons on Thursday, said writers, poets, artists andjournalists wouldmeet daily to exchange their views and to discuss contemporary literary issues over a cup of coffee.

The basic agenda of the meeting was to discuss the proposal with the writers and to seek their opinion on the idea.

“This coffee house will be equipped with all facilities including provision of meal and refreshments on subsidised rates. It is our tradition to dedicate a place for meeting in all major cities,” he said, referring to the Pak Tea House (Lahore), Arts Council (Karachi) and Qehwa Khana (Peshawar).

Chairman PAL said he had been considering a separate building for the coffee house, but a written approval of the Capital Development Authority was required.

Therefore, it was decided that the house would be established in the PAL basement.

He said the academy provided facilities for writers to organise literary programmes in the common rooms and conference halls.

Islamabad had developed as a literary centre, but there was no dedicated place available for meeting of writers akin to those in Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar.

Poet Manzar Naqvi, while giving his suggestions, said it was a good decision but the administration should not interfere in issues of literary personalities.

“In the past, some personalities were stopped from entering PAL. That kind of attitude of the management will discourage literary persons and will divide them in groups. Others will hesitate to visit,” he said.

Hameed Shahid suggested the general public should not be allowed in the Writers’ Coffee House, as otherwise the literary persons might prefer not to visit it.

Aftab Zia, Afshan Abbasi, Sarfraz Shahid, Asghar Abid, Mehboob Zafar and others also gave their suggestions during the discussion.—A Reporter