Intellectuals call for using literature as source of national integration

Islamabad

First-ever literature carnival ended here with the call of laying greater focus on literature and language for promoting national integration, unity and harmony.

Eminent scholars, intellectual and journalists while addressing the working-sessions of the two-day event underlined the importance of literature and language for reformation of the society. They were of the view that literature could be an effective source for influencing the mind of the people for ensuring their positive role in developing a civilized and prosperous society.

The event, arranged by Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) was presided over by the Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Shahid Siddiqui. It was participated among others by Prof. Fateha Muhammad Malik, Shakeel Adilzada, Hamid Mir and Afzal Butt, President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists. They asserted that literature should get equal Importance in educational pursuits.

It was aimed at producing professionals in all walks of life with a special focus on the cause of national integration. To get unity in diversity, various seminars, workshops and conferences have become regular feature of University to enhance the research capability of students and scholars. The literature carnival provided a platform to writers, poets, thinkers and publishers to celebrate their literary contributions.

Dr. Shahid Siddiqui in address at the concluding session said the AIOU encourages young scholars/writers to share their literary efforts and with the students and amateur writers to enhance their creative capabilities. The primary cause of such activity helped to develop AIOU as a hub of literary activities too and build a soft image of the Pakistani society

The students and teachers needed to develop habit of seeking more and more knowledge of their respective discipline to compete with the developed countries. Knowledge-gap is only difference between the under-developed and developed countries, he added.  

During a panel discussion, the participants paid rich tributes to a famous literary figure and editor ‘Subrang Digest’ Shakeel Adilzada for his contribution in the field of Urdu literature. The discussion was participated among others by Dr. Shahid Siddiqui, eminent journalist and the chairman AIOU’s department of Urdu Dr. Abdul Aziz Sahir.

A discussion was also arranged on ‘Book culture’ that was participated by chairman National Books Foundation Inamul Haq Javed, Publisher Sang-e-meel Press Afzaal Ahmed and Managing Director Oxford University Press of Pakistan Ameena Saiyid.  They noted that there has been an upward trend of books’ writing and reading habit in the recent years.