The birth anniversary of renowned writer‚ broadcaster and intellectual Ashfaq Ahmed is being observed on Monday (today).
He was born on August 22, 1925, in Garhmukteshwar village, Ghaziabad, British India.
Shortly before independence in 1947, he came to Lahore and completed his MA in Urdu from the Government College.
Ashfaq Ahmed started writing short stories much earlier in his age. He could also speak Italian since he had stayed in Rome for some time and had joined Radio Rome as an Urdu newscaster. He also learnt French. He also edited an Urdu magazine “Dastango and Lail-o-Nihar”.
He has authored some 25 books, including a travelogue. His works included novels‚ short stories and plays for television and radio as well.
He was awarded President’s Pride of Performance and Sitara-i-Imtiaz for meritorious services in the field of literature and broadcasting.
Ashfaq Ahmed had been Director General of the Markazi Urdu Board for some 30 years and held many other prestigious appointments.
Ashfaq Ahmed died on September 7, 2004, at the age of 79.
