PAL announces Kamal-e-Fun, National Literary Awards 2025

ISLAMABAD, Aug 07 (APP):Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL), under the National Heritage and Culture Division, formally announced the recipients of the Kamal-e-Fun Award 2025 and the National Literary Awards 2025 at a press conference held here on Friday.

In recognition of the outstanding literary services of eminent writers, the Pakistan Academy of Letters has selected renowned Abdur Rehman Brahui for the Kamal-e-Fun Award 2025.

The announcement was made by Dr. Najeeba Arif, Chairperson, Pakistan Academy of Letters, during a press conference.The Kamal-e-Fun Award is the country’s highest literary honour and carries a cash prize of Rs. 1,000,000 (One Million Rupees). The recipient of the Kamal-e-Fun Award 2025 was selected by a distinguished panel of judges comprising on Pakistan’s most respected literary scholars and intellectuals.

The panel included Munir Ahmed Badini, Dr. Abdul Razzaq Sabir, Dr. Fahmida Hussain, Mubeen Mirza, Dr. Khalid Mahmood Sanjrani, Rana Mehboob Akhtar, Dr. Amjad Tufail, Dr. Rubina Shaheen, Dr. Abaseen Yousafzai, Hassam Hur, Sarwat Mohiuddin, Muhammad Qasim Naseem, and Haris Khaleeq. The meeting was chaired by Munir Ahmed Badini.

The Kamal-e-Fun Award is presented annually to a Pakistani writer in recognition of his or her lifetime contribution to literature. It is the country’s highest literary award and was instituted by the Pakistan Academy of Letters in 1997.The award has previously been conferred upon Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, Intizar Hussain, Mushtaq Ahmed Yousufi, Ahmed Faraz, Shaukat Siddiqui, Munir Niazi, Ada Jafri, Sobho Gianchandani, Dr. Nabi Bakhsh Khan Baloch, Jamiluddin Aali, Muhammad Ajmal Khan Khattak, Abdullah Jan Jamaldini, Muhammad Lutfullah Khan, Bano Qudsia, Muhammad Ibrahim Joyo, Abdullah Hussain, Afzal Ahsan Randhawa, Fahmida Riaz, Kishwar Naheed, Amar Jaleel, Dr. Jamil Jalibi, Munir Ahmed Badini, Asad Muhammad Khan, Zafar Iqbal, Hassan Manzar, Iftikhar Arif, and Ata-ul-Haq Qasmi.On this occasion, the National Literary Awards on best books published during the year 2025 were also announced.

Addressing the press conference, Chairperson of the Pakistan Academy of Letters Dr. Najeeba Arif announced the recipients of the National Literary Awards as follows: Saadat Hasan Manto Award (Urdu Prose – Creative Literature/Fiction) is given to Ikhlaq Ahmad on his book “Bhaid Bharay”, (Judges: Mubeen Mirza, Dr. Khalid Mahmood Sanjrani, Muhammad Hameed Shahid,  Mushtaq Ahmad Yousufi Award (Urdu Prose – Creative Literature (Non-Fiction_ is given to Muhammad Izhar-ul-Haq on his book “Bikhri Hai Meri Dastan”, (Judges: Nasir Abbas Nayyar, Muhammad Hameed Shahid, Irfan Javed.), Babaye Urdu Maulvi Abdul Haq Award (Urdu Research & Criticism) is given to Sajid Siddiq Nizami on his book on his book “Tahawulat-e-Nasr-e-Urdu”, (Judges: Dr. Rauf Parekh, Dr. Anwar Ahmad, Dr. Amjad Tufail),  Allama Muhammad Iqbal Award (Urdu Poetry) is given to Ghulam Hussain Sajid on his book “Hafiza”, (Judges: Shoaib Bin Aziz, Naseer Ahmad Nasir, Sarwar Javed), Syed Waris Shah Award (Punjabi Poetry): Zaheer Wattoo on his book “Kanh De Baloo”,  Afzal Ahsan Randhawa Award (Punjabi Prose) is given to Saleem Shahzad on his book “Warlap”, (Judges: Ghulam Hussain Sajid, Rai Muhammad Khan Nasir, Dr. Nabeela Rehman)),  Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai Award (Sindhi Poetry) is given to Anwar Kaka on his book “Peshani San Lakheel Nazm”,  Mirza Qaleech Baig Award (Sindhi Prose): Jointly awarded to Akbar Soomro on his book “Marakash Ji Ghatti” and Dr. Riazat Burero on his book “Sindhi Boli Mein Lughat Nawisi Jo Tehqeeqi Mutalao”, (Judges: Madad Ali Sindhi, Shabnam Gul, Taj Joyo),  Khushhal Khan Khattak Award (Pashto Poetry): Jointly awarded to Jamshaid Ali Jamshaid on his book Makhuna Kitabona and Dr. Kaleem Shinwari on his book Sukhan Kada, Muhammad Ajmal Khan Khattak Award (Pashto Prose) is given to Gul Muhammad Betab on his book Da Abaseen Pa Ghaara, (Judges: Farooq Sarwar, Izharullah Izhar, Kulsoom Zeb), Mast Tawakali Award (Balochi Poetry) is given to Munir Momin on his book Wab Shahar Ant Na Botagant Mana”, Syed Zahoor Shah Hashmi Award (Balochi Prose) is given to Dr. Fazal Khaliq on his book Mar, Ou Tak, (Judges: Dr. Zia-ur-Rehman Baloch, Dr. Abdul Saboor Baloch, Muhammad Yousaf Gichki),  Khwaja Ghulam Farid Award (Saraiki Poetry) is given to Shahid Makli on his book Ajok,  Dr. Mehr Abdul Haq Award (Saraiki Prose) is given to Riffat Abbas on his book Maskhariyan Da Mela, (Judges: Saleem Shahzad, Musarrat Kalanchvi, Rana Mehboob Akhtar), Taj Muhammad Tajal Award (Brahui Poetry) is given to Sair Saryabi on his book Gutkar, Ghulam Nabi Rahi Award (Brahui Prose) is given to  Shehzad Ghani on his book “Jadooiya Jannat Roos”, (Judges: Tahira Ihsas Jatak, Afzal Murad, Waheed Zaheer),  Sain Ahmad Ali Award (Hindko Poetry) is given to  Dr. Khawar Chaudhry on his book “Khali Aasman”,  Khatir Ghaznavi Award (Hindko Prose) is given to Prof. Malik Nasir Daud on his book Allama Muhammad Iqbal (Judges: Hassam Har, Bushra Farrukh, Muhammad Hanif), Patras Bukhari Award (English Prose): Muhammad Athar Tahir on his book “Where Cicadas Sing”, (Judges: Muhammad Safeer Awan, Arshad Waheed, Muhammad Afser Sajid), Muhammad Hasan Askari Award (Translation) is given to  Inam Nadeem on his book “Gaza Se Ek Aur Khat” (Judges: Salman Basit, Huma Anwar, Zaif Syed).

Each author whose book has been selected on his book a National Literary Award 2025 will receive a cash prize of Rs. 200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Rupees).

Talking to APP, the spokesperson said the ceremony is considered one of the country’s most prestigious literary events, during which the names of distinguished writers and poets were announced in recognition of their outstanding contributions to literature in various Pakistani languages and literary genres.

He said prominent literary figures, authors, writers, poets, students and representatives of literary organizations attended the event.

Representatives of media organizations were in present to provide extensive coverage of the event, ensuring wide publicity for this prestigious literary occasion.

The Kamal-e-Fun Award is Pakistan’s highest literary honour conferred by the Pakistan Academy of Letters, while the National Literary Awards recognize outstanding literary works and significant contributions across diverse languages and literary disciplines.