PAL’s third three-day “Nasl-e-Nau Adabi Mela” begins

ISLAMABAD, Aug 11 (APP):The inaugural session of the third three-day “Nasl-e-Nau Adabi Mela” was held on Tuesday at the Faiz Ahmed Faiz Auditorium of the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL), Islamabad, under the auspices of the National Heritage and Culture Division.

The event was held with great dignity and literary grandeur and was attended by selected young participants from across the country, along with writers, poets and intellectuals from Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The ceremony commenced with a flag-hoisting ceremony and the national anthem. A cake-cutting ceremony was also held in connection with Independence Day, followed by the unveiling of portraits of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Muhammad Iqbal. The ceremony then proceeded with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by a Naat presented by Aqdas Hashmi.

Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Division Aurangzeb Khan Khichi was the chief guest, while Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, Chairperson of the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Heritage and Culture Division, attended as the guest of honour.

The session was moderated by Sultan Nasir, while Iftikhar Arif and Atta-ul-Haq Qasmi delivered keynote addresses.

In her welcome address, Chairperson of the Academy of Letters Pakistan, Prof. Dr. Najeeba Arif, said the “Nasl-e-Nau Adabi Mela” was not merely a literary event but an effective platform for connecting young people with creative expression, intellectual dialogue and literary activities.

She said the festival provided opportunities for interaction, harmony and intellectual exchange among young people belonging to different regions of the country.

She highlighted the ongoing literary activities of the Academy of Letters Pakistan, the achievements of her three-year tenure and the Academy’s overall performance over the past 50 years.

She also outlined various initiatives and projects, including efforts to establish a Museum of Pakistan’s Regional Languages, the addition of two new awards to the annual national awards, installation of a lift in the Academy’s main building, a 10-day residential programme, and the weekly literary session “Chai, Baatain aur Kitaabain.” She said she had made every possible effort during her tenure to make the Academy a more active and effective literary institution.

Welcoming the young male and female participants from different parts of the country, she said certificates would be awarded to those demonstrating outstanding performance at the conclusion of the three-day event.

Delivering his keynote address, Iftikhar Arif said the third “Nasl-e-Nau Adabi Mela” was not merely a formal literary activity but a meaningful and effective platform for creativity, thought and dialogue.

Appreciating the literary services of the Academy under the leadership of Dr. Najeeba Arif, he said the Academy of Letters Pakistan, as a literary institution, was performing better than literary institutions in many parts of the world.

Federal Minister Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, in his address, described young people, particularly young women, as the bright future of the nation. He said the government was taking serious measures for the welfare of writers and the promotion of literature. He observed that writers and intellectuals played a vital role in providing intellectual guidance to society.

The Federal Minister appreciated the three-year performance of Chairperson Dr. Najeeba Arif and expressed his desire for her to continue her association with the Academy for another three years.

He said the government would continue to extend its full cooperation through the Academy of Letters Pakistan for the promotion and development of literature.

The Federal Minister also shared memories from his student days with the young participants from different parts of the country and said that wherever he was entrusted with governmental responsibilities, he would remain available to the literary community and youth.

The inaugural session also featured the presentation of the prestigious Kamal-e-Fun Awards. The Kamal-e-Fun Award 2023 was conferred upon renowned poet and writer Iftikhar Arif following the presentation of a citation highlighting his literary journey and services.

The Kamal-e-Fun Award 2024 was presented to renowned columnist, journalist, playwright and writer Atta-ul-Haq Qasmi.

Meanwhile, the Kamal-e-Fun Award 2025, conferred upon renowned Brahui writer and poet Dr. Abdul Rehman Brahui, was received by Panah Baloch on his behalf in his absence.

On the occasion, Dr. Najeeba Arif also presented the guests with a book containing a report on the performance and achievements of her three-year tenure as Chairperson of the Academy of Letters Pakistan.

The inaugural session concluded with a renewed commitment that the third “Nasl-e-Nau Adabi Mela” would play an important role in promoting creativity, intellectual exchange and stronger literary linkages among the country’s youth at the national level.