Reconstituting NSC

Staff Report, "Literary activities promotion: PAL to set up literary TV channel, FM radio station" - Daily Times - Lahore, Pakistan
Saturday, November 8, 2008

Islamabad: Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) is all set to establish a literary television channel, FM radio station and an audio-video library shortly to propagate the literary and cultural activities, said PAL Chairman Fakhar Zaman on Friday while addressing a press conference after assuming the charge.

Zaman said PAL would also translate Pakistani literature into all major international languages of the world.

He also announced that the Academy would hold a three-day international conference on mysticism in the 2nd half of December this year.

“PAL has also decided to institute yearly award of Rs 1 million for the best book on Sufi poets of Pakistan,” he said.

He also announced that the amount being given to deserving writers and bereaved families would be increased to Rs 5,000 [USD 62.- / EUR 49.-] per month from the existing Rs 3,000 and Rs 4,000 per month. In case of sudden death of the writer, one-time financial assistance is being raised from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1 million, he said.

Zaman said a national conference of writers would also be held in December 2008 wherein awards for 2007 would be given to the winners. He said the conference would also discuss promotion of literary languages and culture.

Zaman said PAL would establish linkages with countries like India, Turkey, Japan, Russia, Poland, Germany, Egypt, Malaysia, UK and Central Asian countries where Pakistani literature is being taught.

“Presently, PAL has linkage with China only, therefore, we plan to make it broad-based in all those countries where Pakistan studies, Pakistan language and Urdu departments exist,” he said.

Zaman said PAL had already started collecting compilation of poems eulogizing Benazir Bhutto, in all languages of Pakistan. A book would be published and launched on her first death anniversary, December 27, he added.

He said the Academy’s Writer’s House would be extended and the existing one would be refurbished for the use of writers, intellectuals and journalists. “Over the years, role of writers and poets has been marginalised in our social circle, PAL is committed to bring these intellectuals into the mainstream to get maximum result,” said Zaman.

Zaman, a literary figure and leader of the ruling PPP, said efforts were on to make provincial offices of PAL more functional. “PAL will arrange allotment of land for its provincial offices,” he said.

About ongoing book series titled “Makers of Pakistan”, Zaman said the series would accommodate all Pakistani languages and writers as well as writers from all over the world.

“During International Conference of 1995 books titled ‘Mystic Poets’, ‘Resistance Literature’ and ‘Pakistani Literature’ were published in seven languages of the United Nations. I send those books to all participant countries and now one may get translated work of Pakistani writers in their own language,” he said.

Zaman, who formulated cultural policy in 1995, said PAL would arrange International Book Exhibition on its premises annually.

“PAL would hold seminars and conferences on the Sufi poets and has planned to celebrate their Urs days at federal and provincial levels every year,” Zaman said.

He said that PAL was reconstituting the National Sufi Council (NSC) made by president Musharraf.