FARZANA Naz, a budding young poet and mother of two died in Islamabad from injuries she suffered in a tragic accident at the Pak-China Hall where she had gone to attend the three-day National Book Foundation literary festival, Kitab Mela. The writer suffered severe head and spinal injuries at the festival when she fell from a 12-foot high stage and died after two days in hospital.

Farzana hailed from Bhalwal and did her Masters in Urdu from Punjab University.

The World Book Day is observed every year on April 23. It is my humble suggestion that the poem that she recited at the festival be made into a song that is henceforth sung at every book day. Furthermore, arrangements be made to bear the education expenses of her children.

Dr Alfred Charles

Karachi

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2017