SAHIWAL: A cultural show was organised at the Jinnah Hall on Thursday, the second day of celebrations being held here to mark Golden Jubilee of change of name of the town from Montgomery to Sahiwal.

The show included Ravi Jhumer performance by Sanwal Group, distribution of lifetime achievement awards among prominent personalities of the town, a show on Sahiwal’s history by Punjab Lok Lahar and Sufi Kalam by singers Ms Abida and Shazia Muree.

The town’s name was changed on Nov 11, 1966, some 19 years after the partition.

Prof Arjumand Quraishi, who moderated the function, said Sahiwal had a rich literary history with regard to both Urdu and Punjabi languages and it should be celebrated.

Those given lifetime achievement awards are: Capt Usman Shaheed (national hero), Baba Talib Jatoi (Punjabi poet), Shafiq Chishti (ex-national Kabadi team captain), Sohail Anjum Ansari (Safeer-i-Sahiwal), Haji Shaikh Muhammad Akram (philanthropist), Mahmoodul Hasan Kirmani (educationist), Aslem Kasori (founder of Quran Mahal), Manzoor Elahi and Saleem Elahi (national cricketers) and Prof Arjumand Quraishi (anchor person).

The awards were distributed by guests of honour Malik Nadeem Kamran and MPA Malik Arshad.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2016