The Sindhi Adabi Board (SAB) has launched the “Benazir” literary magazine to promote and develop women’s literature, the board’s chairman and provincial Inter-Provincial Coordination Minister Makhdoom Jamiluz Zaman said on Tuesday.
“We value them [Sindh’s female literati] and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto always struggled to highlight their services. The magazine has been launched keeping her struggle in view,” he added.
This minister said this during a literary and academic sitting with female writers and intellectuals at the board’s office in Jamshoro.
“The role and contributions of women in Sindhi literature can never be forgotten. They have rendered significant services and they are very valuable, talented and respectable,” said Zaman.
“Previously in the first tenure of the Pakistan People’ Party government, the board started the “Surtyoon” magazine that continues to publish for the last 22 years to promote and project women’s literature,” he pointed out.
Zaman urged the province’s female literary personalities to contribute in the magazine that is published on modern lines so that “the present and coming generations should be aware about their literature, culture, civilisation and history”.
He assured them that their recommendations would be considered for the betterment of the board as well as of the magazines to further promote and develop women’s work in Sindhi literature.
He also said that forthcoming issue of the “Mehran” magazine would focus on women and ensure their representation in the editorial board.
Earlier, SAB Board of Governors member and Standing Committee chairman Inayut Baloch said that no one could negate the importance of women due to their valuable contributions and untiring services. “They would be included in the future literary projects,” he added.
Surtyoon Editor Gul Badan Javed Mirza highlighted the services, contributions and important role of women at every level, especially in the social development of the society and appreciated their writings and literary contributions.
During the literary and academic sitting, famous female writers including Dr Mumtaz
Bhutto, Dr Tehmina Makhdom Rasheeda Bhatti, Najma Panhwer, Amar Sindhoo, Naseem Jalbani, Irshad Soomro, Nasreen altaf and Aaliya Buxiala put forward their suggestions for women’s participation in literature and said that they continuously play their due role in every field . “The female writers of the province contribute to promote and build up literature, but it should be the need of the hour that they should be given more opportunities to accomplish the task,” they said.
On the occasion Dr Tehmina Makhdoom presented her two newly published books to Zaman.
It was also decided that the SAB would arrange the publication of the female literati’s contributions.
SAB to highlight province’s female literati
