Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Thursday said Pakistan was in a state of war and only the vision of its writers and intellectuals could help the country cope with the grave challenges it was facing.
Addressing a gathering at the PM Secretariat, the prime minister said the society needed a message of peace, love and tranquillity, as it was the best weapon against extremism that had held the nation hostage.
He addressed eminent writers, intellectuals and poets from all over the country and accepted all demands set forth by the Academy of Letters, for the welfare of their community.
“We urge you to use the force of your pens to help change the extremist mindset, and bring about a positive change in the society,” he said.
He said the present government had faced unabated criticism in its tenure, but it had showed a similar degree of tolerance as it was passing through a period of transition. He said that with the passage of time, the society will grow more tolerant and that would help counter the extremist mindset. The PM recalled that he had often faced criticism when he was Minister of Water and Power. He said once Parliamentarian Bushra Rehman had read out a satirical poem about him in the Parliament House, much to the amusement of its members. Ashraf said that was reflective of the level of democracy in the country, as Bushra had never read out such poems during Musharaf’s dictatorship.
He announced Rs 30 million for the completion of an auditorium for the Academy of Letters, and doubled the amount of the “Qamal-e-fun” award from Rs 0.5 million to Rs 1 million. He also raised the stipend amount from Rs 5,000 to the minimum wage of Rs 7,000.
Ashraf said that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had laid the foundation of the Pakistan Academy of Letters for the welfare of the intellectuals and writers of the country.
He said as a political worker, it was a privilege for him to address the gathering, as he turned to them for guidance in daily affairs.
Ashraf said the theme of the two-day International Writers’ Conference on literature and democracy was apt as it reflected the freedom enjoyed by writers and intellectuals. He hoped the conference would help strengthen national cohesion and bring about a positive change in the society. He said it would help counter the extremist mindset that was bent on forcing its way of life on others.
The event was attended by 25 foreign writers and 650 local intellectuals. Prominent writers attending the event include Intezar Hussain, Bano Qudsia, Mustansir Hussain Tararr, Fakher Zaman, Anver Shaur, Fehmeeda Riaz, Ata-ul-Qasmi, Zohira Nigah, Anver Sadeed, Amjad Islam Amjid, Shakeel Adil Zada, Peerzada Qasim and Dr Khursheed Rizvi.
Minister for National Heritage and Integration Samina Khalid Ghurki lauded the role of writers and intellectuals in strengthening the nation and giving it a positive vision and direction. She said only writers and intellectuals stand firm when confronted by dictators and despots and remained committed to the values of freedom and justice.
