LAHORE, Feb 6: The Faiz Foundation Trust will be organising a number of events during the month to mark the end of the poet’s centennial year including Faiz Amn Mela, says a press release.

In this connection Allama Iqbal’s work Payam-i-Mashriq that was translated in poetic rhyme from Persian into Urdu by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, will be launched at the Ali Institute of Education on Feb 11 at 6pm. Dr Javed Iqbal, Prof Khursheed Rizvi and Mr Ahmed Javed will be among the speakers on the occasion.

Selections from the collection will be read out by Adeel Hashmi, accompanied by Rakae Jamil on the sitar.

Similarly, Faiz Amn Mela, to be organised by Labour Party Pakistan in collaboration with Faiz Foundation Trust, will be held on Feb 12 (Sunday) from 12:30pm to 6pm at Bagh-i-Jinnah Open Air Theatre. The event will start with a mushaira, expected to be participated by poets from allover the country, followed by a cultural programme.

Renowned singer Tina Sani will sing Faiz and Iqbal on Feb 13 at 6pm at Alhamra Hall No 1, The Mall. The event will also feature two performances based on Faiz’s poetry by Lahore Grammar School students, followed by reading of letters of Faiz and Alys Faiz, written to each other, by Adeel Hashmi, who will be accompanied by Asad Anees on the piano.

Khalid Hasan remembered: A memorable evening in connection with the third death anniversary of leading journalist and intellectual Khalid Hasan was held at South Asia Free Media Association office here on Monday.

Friends, colleagues and family members of the late Khalid Hasan threw light on various aspects of his multi-dimensional personality.

Khalid Ahmed, a prominent journalist and friend of Khalid Hasan, said the West could have never known about Saadat Hasan Manto had Khalid Hasan not translated his works into English.  Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Secretary-General IA Rehman said he got acquaintance with Hasan through letters he used to write to The Pakistan Times in ‘Letter to Editor’. He said though The Pakistan Times used to follow its traditions strongly and was very formal in its tone, Hasan added new colours to the paper with his writings.

BBC’s Shahid Malik read a full length article on Khalid Hasan that encompassed almost every aspect of his life — from his love for classical music to his taste for poetry and from his fondness for cooking to his passion to become a journalist.

Hasan’s brother Masood Hasan and TV and film artiste Salman Shahid read some excerpts from Hasan’s books. He also screened some memorable pictures of Khaild Hasan on the projector with some known personalities. — Staff Reporter