In order to promote national literature, Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) will hold regular meetings with writers and intellectuals.
PAL Chairman Abdul Hameed said this during his two-day special meetings with writers belonging to Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
He said writers have the power to change line of thinking of readers. He heard suggestions and recommendations of writers and promised the PAL would try its best to materialise these suggestions.
He shared with the gathering of writers that he will focus on making the regular publications of PAL in time and will also try to enhance their marketing. The chairman appreciated the suggestions regarding writers’ cards for concession in traveling and establishment of literary TV channel.
He said he would try his best to persuade authorities concerned to make the issuance of writers’ cards. The writers stressed on the need to renew PAL’s policies to buy books for their annual awards. Asghar Abid focused on the suggestion on the special publications on children literature. Yusuf Hassan said that TV channel should be contacted to urge them to give more time in their broadcast to literary programs. Nisar Natik presented the suggestion of a book club for writers. Whereas, the other writers stressed the need for a committee to make the conferring awards more partial. Iqbal Hussain Ifkar, Wafa Chishti and Wahid Buzdar drew the attention of the chairman to writers living in under-developed and small towns. Dr Salahuddin Darwaish suggested that literary magazine Adbiyat should publish its regular issue along with special one. He also urged that PAL should initiate new projects to promote young writers. Dr Alamgir Hashmi stressed that importance of strong editorial board in PAL. Fareeda Hafeez said PAL should continue such positive and productive meetings with the writers. Dr Ahsan Akbar and Ahmed Javed stressed that PAL should plan to publish books at cheap rates. Dr Rashid Hameed recommended that PAL should again start the publications of its monthly newsletter. Renowned writers Shoib Jazab, Ghazanfar Hashmi, Noreen Talhat, Manzar Naqvi, Fareen Chaudhry, Tabasum Ikhlaq, Saeed Ahmed Hamza Sheikh and other appreciated PAL’s efforts to have a dialogue with writers for getting their recommendations.
