International conference on ‘ignored writers’ to begin on 21st

A literary organisation, called Niazmandan-e-Karachi, is holding the first international conference on ‘ignored Pakistani writers’ on July 21 at the Khadmi Ali Shah Bukhari Institute of Technology, Sindh Muslim Cooperative Society.

The organisation’s secretary, Ronaq Hayat, says that the conference will be attended by delegates from different parts of the country as well as from abroad. He says the conference at its five sessions will discuss issues of writers.

Dr Muhammad Khawar Jameel, Jameel Yousuf, Dr Farhat Abbas (Islamabad), Prof Muhammad Ashraf, Rana Khalid Mehmood Qaisar (Balochistan) Prof Mirza Aslam Baig (Hyderabad), Ashraf Shaad (Australia), Ghazal Ansari (UK), Zeenat Lakhani (Canada) are attending the conference. 

Besides others, Khiamul Asr, Prof Raees Alvi, Mohsin Azamabadi, Prof Jazib Qureshi, Hayatul Nabi Rizvi, Hijab Abbasi, Tabassum Siddiqui, Ifroz Rizvi, Riaz Nadim Niazi, Maqsood Yousufi, Mohammad Amin Yousuf, Majeed Rehmani, Dr Alia Imam, Rizwan Siddiqui, Rashid Noor, Salman Siddiqui, Dr Nisar Ahmed are to speak on various issues. 

Hayat says that the conference is aimed at questioning the role of the government bodies assigned the role of the promotion of art, literature and culture. He says the state bodies have delivered nothing in this regard and the conference is to debate this matter as well.

As many as 25 other city organisations are collaborating to hold the conference. They include Urdu International Australia, Bazm-e-Yaaran, Leads (Britain), Majlise Saqafat Pakistan (Bahawalpur), Pakistan Adabi Forum Islamabad, University of Karachi Graduates’ Forum Canada, Taqdees-e-Adab Pakistan, Mumaasilaate Asraar, Bazm-e-Urooje Adab, Bisaate Adab Pakistan.