Charged, inspired and motivated with novel ideas, new possibilities and fresh energy, the young writers and poets— 17 in all—from all the provinces and regions of Pakistan returned to their native lands with a commitment to utilize what they learned and experienced during their stay in Islamabad.
They were in Islamabad from Jan 14 to 25, 2025 as guests of the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) participating in an inter-provincial residency project. During this period, they, besides visiting some of Islamabad’s iconic buildings, tourist spots, museums, etc and enjoying the hospitality of the PAL, participated in a number of literary activities including meetings with literary luminaries including fiction writers, poets, critics and educationists.
The young writers and poets hailed from all the four provinces, AJK and GB and their selection was carried out purely on merit.
A committee of senior members after evaluating your applications, your work and past achievements made this selection and 20 applicants were chosen out 200 applications.
The concluding session on the last day of the residency project was held at the PAL and presided over by senior fiction writer Muhammad Ilyas while eminent writers Farida Hafiz, ImdadAkash, QayyumTahir, RafiqSandhelvi and poet Hassan Abbas Raza were the guests of honour. Director General of the PAL, Sultan Nasir in his welcome address briefed the guests about the first-ever inter-provincial residency project hosted by the PAL and credited the Chairperson DrNajibaArif for taking keen interest in making the project a huge success.
The way she has coined and then implemented the project we can call it ‘Celebration of Diversity,’ said Sultan Nasir paying compliments to the Chairperson of the PAL. Among the participants we came across poets and writers who belong to various regions including GilgitBaltistan (GB), Panjgur, Gwadar, Kohistan, DI Khan, Mardan, Bhakkar, Khushab, Kohat and Sanghar.
The concluding session turned out to be a memorable one as each participant presented his/her work of prose or poetry that she/he wrote during the 10-day time and received much appreciation.
Majority of their works were in their native languages such as Punjab, Pushto, Siraiki, Balochi, Brahui, Hindko, Shinaetc though there were also pieces written in English and Urdu by these resident writers and poets.
Muhammad WaliSadiq from Kohistan was highly praised for his Urdu poem. Hafiz Tabassum presented ‘A letter to Abdullah Hussain’ while KashifNasir shared with the guests an extract from his English work. Manzoor Joyo presented a Sindhi ghazal while QaisRaza recited an Urdu ghazal. Similarly, IshaqRaza’sBalochighazal, ZiaulMustafvi’s poem and NaeemYad’s account of 10-day stay in the Writers House, PAL were among the much-hailed works at the concluding session.
DrSanawarIqbal spoke about his novel while ZakirQadir read out from his Balochi short story.
IramJafar shared with the audience her impression of the GilgitBaltistan (GB) she hailed from while IramImtiaz presented a Pushto poem to the utter delight of the audience. Tufail Abbas’ poem in Shina (a language spoken in GB), MaharZahid’s poem in Brahui language and Muslim Ansari’s ‘KhawahishNama’ also won much accolade from the audience. Mustafiz-ur-Rehman and Asif Shah also shared their Urdu poems.
Muhammad Ilyas in his presidential address praised DrNajibaArif and her team for thinking of a novel idea to bring poets and writers from the far-flung regions of Pakistan under one roof. I am deeply touched to listen to these promising poets and writers. He advised the young writers to compose stories and poems without considering any prejudice, bias or grouping.
