PESHAWAR: The members of a literary body pledged here on Sunday to promote critical thinking and cultural activities to build a tolerant society.

The literary body ‘Qami Adabi Majlis’ (QAM) founded in June this year held its first provincial convention for administering oath to its 36 representatives with unveiling seven-point agenda.

The event was arranged at Khana-i-Farhang Iran Peshawar on Sunday where delegates from parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Karachi, Quetta, Islamabad and Attock participated. They vowed to take concrete steps for promoting literary and cultural activities.

Kamran Bangash, special assistant to chief minister on higher education, said on the occasion that government fully supported such forums working for the welfare of the society as poets and writers were required to portray real picture of the people.

Office-bearers of literary body administered oath

Mehran Iskandariyan, the director general of Iran Cultural Centre, and Dr Ghazi Gulab Jamal, former federal minister, were guests of honour on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, the writers said that the main objective of QAM was to safeguard linguistic, cultural and social values and expedite efforts for promoting critical thinking, tolerance and also to create awareness among people for peace, stability and national unity through power of writing and fine arts.

They said that poets, writers and artists could bring about a substantive change in the society through their art and could shape outlook people for stemming intolerance, non-seriousness and anti-societal trends.

QAM chief Ismail Gohar said that his organisation would work on four distinct subjects including literature and arts, education and research, journalism, and inter-district liaison under the supervision of seasoned writers.

Unveiling the seven-point agenda, Idrees Asr, patron-in-chief of QAM, said that serious steps would be taken to stem intolerance, nonscientific approach and instead advocate trends of inquiry, research, creativity, peace and positive thinking through writing.

Prof Zubair Hasart said that efforts would also made to boost fine arts and positive image of Pakhtuns through inclusivity of artists, intellectuals and experts on social issues.

“QAM will launch its own comprehensive magazine in addition to using social media forums for highlighting different literary and cultural issues,” he added.

Pashto translation of a Persian authored by Ismail Baghistani and Mohsin Moeeni and rendered by Anwar Shaheen Khankhel was also launched at the event.

Later, noted artist, Khanzada Asfandyar Khattak performed famous Khattak folk dance and received great applause from the audience. It was followed by a poetry recitation session in which around 20 poets shared their poems.

Prof Aseer Mangal, Hasina Gul and Laiqzada Laiq also spoke at the event.

Published in Dawn, November 22nd, 2021