ISLAMABAD, May 22 Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) has nominated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto for international Quaid-i-Awam award” for democracy and renowned Swedish poet Peter Curman for International “Quaid-i-Azam Award” for literature for the year 2008.

These international awards carrying cash of Rs2 million each will be given at the international writers conference slated to be held sometime next month.

This was announced by Chairman PAL Fakhar Zaman while speaking at a press conference here on Friday. He said the firm date and schedule of International Conference on “Sufism and Peace” would be announced after Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani confirmed his participation as he had been invited to preside over the inaugural session of the conference.

He said arrangements for the conference to be attended by 100 delegates from 70 countries were under way. He said Pakistani writers representing all the provinces would also participate in the mega literary event. He said the two awards had been instituted in mid-1990s and a formal announcement had been made by the then Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in her inaugural address at the first international writers' conference in 1995.

He, however, said the plan could not be implemented as a result of dissolution of National Assembly and subsequent dismissal of the PPP government.

He said Pakistan Academy of Letters had also instituted “Pas-e-Zinda Award” for best writings during military rule. He pointed out that political activists were tortured and kept in prison for long periods during four martial laws. “Based on their memories, many memoirs, historical documents and research material have been published. Pakistan Academy of Letters will give awards to the best one of such writings”.

He said decision regarding the awards will be made by a committee consisting of 13 prominent writers.

Fakhar Zaman also announced new members of PAL Board of Governors, including Afzal Ahsan Randhawa, Masood Ashaar, Dr Tahir Tounsvi, Dr Mohammad Ali Siddiqui, Dr Fahmeeda Hussain, Dr Shah Muhammad Marri, Mr Saleem Raz, Prof Alamgir Hashmi.

He said that 700 writers had been provided insurance cover by the academy and hinted at inclusion of medical facility in the scheme.

He said after publishing special issues of Adbiyat on literary icons including Faiz Ahmad Faiz and Ahmad Faraz, a special issue on Munir Niazi was under the process of publication.

The PAL chief said special issues of Adbiyat on “Pakistani Writers from Abroad”, “Josh Maleeh Abadi, Amrita Preetam, N.M.Rashid, Majeed Amjad, Ghani Khan, Gul Khan Naseer and Sheikh Ayaz will also be published.