ISLAMABAD, Dec 16: Writers and intellectuals of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Friday slammed placement of Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) under the administrative control of the newly-established Ministry of National Heritage and Integration.

Dozens of writers gathered here at the PAL auditorium, as part of a campaign launched to bring the PAL back under the administrative control of the Cabinet Division.

Representatives of almost all literary organisations of the twin cities observed that it was essential to maintain the prestige of the organisation and enable it to achieve core objectives it was formed for including promotion of Pakistani literature on international level and welfare of the writers’ community.

Following the government’s decision, the literary circles have been protesting against the decision that has badly hampered the achievement of the organisation’s key objective.It was pointed out during the meeting that as many as 500 families of deserving poets, writers and heirs of those who passed away have not yet been paid monthly honoraria of Rs5,000 each for the last two months for unavailability of funds due to technical hitches surfacing in the aftermath of PAL’s placement under national heritage ministry.

Above all, the payment of lump sum financial assistance to ailing writers in emergency cases has also been suspended on the same grounds.

The situation has also badly affected the publication and programme projects of PAL.

Following the devolution of the education ministry in pursuance of the 18th Amendment, administrative control of the PAL was assigned to the Cabinet Division in March this year.

But it did not last long, as after establishment of four new ministries following devolution process its control was given to the Ministry of National Heritage and Integration.

This ministry presently exists on papers only with a secretary, two joint secretaries and its Minister Samina Khalid Ghurki. So far, no funds have been allocated for the ministry.

On one hand, this delay in allocation of funds is hampering the administrative work of the PAL while on the other it is adding to the miseries of the deserving poets and writers. It is a matter of grave concern as most of these 500 families depend on this monthly stipend.

The needy writers and families of deceased writers, who are receiving monthly stipends from PAL, have also urged President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to address the problem, but so far their response is awaited.