PM approves welfare package for writers

Islamabad

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has granted formal approval of additional financial measures for the welfare and up lift of poets and writers, disclosed Irfan Siddiqui, Adviser to the Prime Minister on National History and Literary Heritage.

“The implementation on these welfare oriented initiatives would take place from the next financial year,” said Irfan Siddiqui, while talking to media men here on Friday.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, at the inaugural session of the fourth International Writers Conference that was held in Islamabad in the previous month, had announced various steps regarding the welfare of poets, intellectuals and writers.

Mr. Siddiqui stated that PM has accorded approval for the provision of additional resources to implement these steps and amount shall be allocated in the next budget for this purpose. He said Life Insurance scheme for writers has been extended from 354 to 700 individuals and from the next financial year seven hundred writers would benefit from this facility. Family of a writer received Rs100,000 in case of natural death and Rs200,000in case of accidental death, however after the approval of PM, the amount has been enhanced in these two categories, from Rs100,000 to Rs200,000 on natural death and Rs200,000 to Rs400,000 on accidental death, he added.

Adviser to PM said the number of deserving writers, who benefit from the financial assistance on monthly basis, has also been increased. “Previously 500 writers were benefitting from the scheme and were drawing Rs5,000 monthly. From the next financial year 1,000 deserving writers would start receiving Rs13,000 per month,” Irfan Siddiqui explained.

The Adviser informed that 20 awards would be given on books written in national as well as regional languages annually through Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL). 11 such awards were being given previously, however number of these awards has been extended in order to facilitate and encourage new authors including women and youth.

Prime Minister has also given formal approval of Intizar Hussain Award, which would be awarded each year with a Rs1 million cash prize, in the name of great novelist and fiction writer of Pakistan Intizar Hussain, who died last year. Irfan Siddiqui welcomed the approval by the PM and expressed hope that such steps would encourage writers and intellectuals for their literary endeavors in future but also lead towards promotion of literary activities in the country.