PESHAWAR: Abasin Arts Council announced its annual awards for poets and writers on their best literary works in Urdu, Pashto and Hindko published during the year-2023, acclaiming widespread appreciation owing to their quality, substance and impressive style.

Literary circles, linguists and scholars congratulated AACP for acknowledging literary contribution of poets, researchers and writers, asking them to continue contributing to society through their creative talent to advance the cause of linguistic diversity and national unity.

Despite onslaught of social media, local poets, writers and research scholars remained engaged in writing books on variety of topics covering several aspects of literary and cultural traditions that triggered a spirit for promoting and preserving their linguistic heritage, said office-bearers of AAC.

Noted writer and senior vice-president of Abasin Arts Council Prof Nasir Ali Syed on the occasion termed the tradition of awarding poets, writers and researchers on their best works a great milestone towards preserving values and customs of their pluralistic society having a long history and rich cultural background.

Abasin Arts Council gives away awards to writers of Urdu, Pashto and Hindko books

He said that in addition to Urdu, Pashto and Hindko, poets and writers of other lingos should also contribute to their respective mother languages for promoting the cause of linguistic diversity and national unity.

He said that Abasin Arts Council had been carrying on the legacy of acknowledging the selfless contributions of literati with an objective to praise senior wordsmiths and encourage budding bards.

Six awards were announced two each for Pashto and Hindko and four for Urdu poets and writers namely Khalid Suhail Malik, Nusrat Nasim, Tahir Sherazi, Haider Bangash, Feroz Afridi, Akhtar Naem and Nasir Daud and Prof Aslam Taseer Afridi for producing best literary works both in poetry, prose and research published during the year 2023.

Prof Aslam Taseer Afridi told this scribe that he received justice Kiyani award from AACP on his Urdu publication titled ‘Pakistani Zubani Aur Adab’ a research work and billed it a great achievement in his literary journey.

Prof Khalid Suhail Malik, recipient of Allah Bakhash Yousafi award for his best Urdu prose work titled ‘Monsoon’, said that local market of books showed a deep slump over the several years but literati, intellectuals and research scholars would continue their efforts to devote their time and creative strength for furthering the cause of national integration, peace, social cohesion and linguistic diversity.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2025