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Pakistan Academy of Letters unveils future plans
Peter Curman, Benazir nominated for world awards
By Mahtab Bashir
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) on Friday nominated
renowned Swedish poet Peter Curman and Benazir Bhutto Shaheed for
International “Quaid-e-Azam Award for Literature” and “Quaid-e-Awam
Award for Democracy” respectively for the year 2008.
PAL Chairman Fakhar Zaman made this announcement at a media briefing
about academy’s future plans.
Zaman said PAL had announced these two international awards worth of
Rs 2 million to promote a soft image of Pakistan across the world.
On the occasion of an international conference in 1995 Benazir
Bhutto had announced constitution of these awards during her
inaugural speech, he said, adding, but due to change of the
government nothing could be done in this regard.
Zaman said PAL had also announced “Pas-e-Zindaan Award” for best
writings appeared during martial law periods. A committee comprising
13 prominent writers and judges will decide the nominee of this
award worth of Rs 100,000, he added.
He said after expiry of PAL Board of Governors (BoG) tenure, the new
BoG members included Afzal Ahsan Randhawa, Masood Ashaar, Tahir
Tounsvi, Muhammad Ali Siddiqui, Fahmeeda Hussain, Shah Muhammad
Marri, Saleem Raz and Alamgir Hashmi.
He said the prime minister had approved increase in monthly
honorarium of needy writers and bereaved families of writers from Rs
3,000 and Rs 4,000 respectively to Rs 5,000.
Zaman said arrangements were underway for international conference
on “Sufism and Peace”. He said more than 100 delegates from 70
countries would participate in the conference.
He said “Adabiyat” special issues on Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Ahmed Faraz
had been published and a special issue on Munir Niazi was likely to
be issued on May 29. The chairman said to compile selected writings
appeared in Pakistani languages from 1947 to 2007, more than 100
books had been published under the title “Makers of Pakistani
Literature”.
The special issue of “Pakistani Literature” on Pakistani Women
Writers will be reprinted, he said, adding, an important book “Quest
of Peace in the Twilight” containing papers presented in National
Conference on “Sufisim and Peace” will also be published.
PAL is going to reprint soon “Bhutto Trial” in two volumes, a book
containing documents and reports regarding the trial of Zulfikar Ali
Bhutto Shaheed, he said. Zaman also announced to publish a series of
books on Benazir Bhutto Shaheed.
He announced that PAL was planning to publish Urdu translations of
modern American poets while English translation of Pakistani poets
will be produced in America. Both of the books have been finalised
and soon will be out, he added.
“Documentaries on Sufi poets and prominent writers of Pakistan will
be produced, while 45 documentaries are in the pipeline,” said the
chairman, adding, projects regarding establishment of a recording
studio and TV channel have been submitted to the government for
financial assistance. He said process for establishment of a FM
radio channel had also been initiated
Daily Times:Saturday ,May 23,2009
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