‘Calligraphic work of Shafiq-uz-Zaman to be published’

Islamabad:AdvisEr to Prime Minister on National History and Literary Heritage (NH&LH) Wednesday announced that the artistic journey of Calligrapher of Prophet’s (Peace Be Upon Him) Mosque, Ustad Shafiq-uz-Zaman will be published in a book for transferring this glorious Islamic art legacy to the younger generation.

He was addressing in a ceremony arranged by newly established Calligraphy Wing of National Language Promotion Department (NLPD) in the honour of Ustad Shafiq-uz-Zaman. Irfan Siddiqui said it is a matter of great honour for Pakistan that our Calligrapher, Ustad Shafiq-uz-Zaman is privileged enough to have his calligraphic works on the walls of Holy Mosque Masjid-i-Nabwi. He said his division is taking several measures to promote and revive the great Islamic art of calligraphy and for transferring this legacy to the next generations.

He said the division has achieved success in this mission during a short span of time through arranging calligraphic exhibitions at national and international levels, establishing first-ever calligraphic wing and compiling a directory of calligraphers.

He said Ustad Shafiq-uz-Zaman is fortunate enough that he has got an opportunity to live in Madina-tul-Munnawara and rendered great calligraphic contributions for years till present. Irfan Siddiqui said Ustad Shafiq-uz-Zaman was selected through a calligraphy competition among Arabs and Non-Arabs for serving at Prophet’s (PBUH) Mosque.

Arabs carry a significant place in the field of calligraphy while Turkish artists have also earned huge name and respect. Selection of Pakistani calligraphers in that competition reflect that Pakistani calligraphers have great potential to excel in this field, if they are given patronage at government level.

Speaking on the occasion, Ustad Shafiq-uz-Zaman thanked the Advisor to Prime Minister, Irfan Siddiqui and NLPD Chairman, Iftikhar Arif for acknowledging his calligraphic contributions.

Ustad Shafiq-uz-Zaman said he has no words to express his gratitude over such appreciation and warm welcome given to him by the audience. Prominent Calligraphers, Khalid Yousafi and Rasheed Butt termed the calligraphic works of Ustad Shafiq-uz-Zaman as extra-ordinary and said Shafiq-uz-Zaman is greatly inspired from Ustad Abdul Majeed Parveen Raqam who was calligrapher of Allama Iqbal’s poetry.

Appreciating the efforts of NH&LH Division under the supervision of Irfan Siddiqui for promotion of calligraphy, they said today’s ceremony to pay tribute to Ustad Shafiq-uz-Zaman is actually a way to revive the neglected art of calligraphy.

The adviser presented gifts to Ustad Shafiq-uz-Zaman while the artists from far flung areas including Shafqat Ali Javed, Muhammad Shakeel Tabbasum and Muhammad Hanif also presented art pieces to him for expressing their love. A number of young calligraphers, students and officials of NLPD and NH&LH Division attended the ceremony.