KARACHI: Renowned writer and poet Amna Alam launched a collection of poetry at the Karachi Arts Council last weekend.

Titled “Khushboo se likhi fard,” the book serves as a compilation of poetry in the form of hamd, naat, nazm and ghazal, and is the first publication by Alam, who has been writing poetry and prose for almost three decades.

Eminent literary critic Sarshar Siddiqui, who was among the guests at the event, was full of praise for Alam, saying that he first heard a couplet from her in the presence of literary giant Tabish Dehalvi.

“On so many occasions I have asked Amna to publish her work,” Siddiqui told the audience.

According to Siddiqui, Alam has been able to carve out her own style of poetry despite being influenced by her mentor Sahba Akhtar.

Renowned biologist, Dr Waqar Ahmed Zuberi said that Amna Alam is also an important member of Bazm-e-Sciency Adab – a literary movement for the promotion of Science and Technology. Bazm-e-Sciency Adab has been arranging monthly literary sittings in Karachi for more than 18 years.

Speaking on the occasion, Professor Sehar Ansari was of the view that Alam’s poetry reflected the troubles and harshness of life and she also used difficult style of poetry in the book.

Talking about the blending of science into poetry, Ansari said that scientific poetry is an emerging trend and must be appreciated by the literary circles.