‘Fakhre Pakhtunkhwa’ award conferred on 50 personalities

PESHAWAR: A private cultural organization conferred Fakhre Pakhtunkhwa awards on 50 personalities for valuable contributions in their respective fields on Tuesday.

A large number of local artists, noted writers and social activists attended the function.

Members Provincial Assembly of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Ikhtiar Wali and Shagufta Malik of Awami National Party were the guests of honour.

Speaking at the event, the lawmakers said talented personalities should be encouraged and their services be recognized so that they could continue contributing to society.

Pashto ghazal maestros Khayal Muhammad and Gulzar Alam, senior writers Saadullah Jan Barq, Rahmat Shah Sail and Sher Alam Shinwari, Prof Dr Qibla Ayaz, chairman Council of Islamic Ideology, squash legend Qamar Zaman, and veteran TV artiste Nuashaba were among the recipients of Fakhre Pakhtunkhwa award.

The organizers said that the event was arranged to recognize the services of excelling personalities, who had been contributing to the soft image, peace, human development and national cohesion.

Chief organizer Afsar Afghan said that the main objective of the award was to pay tribute to the services of our senior artists and writers and motivate young talent in different fields of life.

He said that around 100 and 70 personalities were decorated with Fakhre Pakhtunkhwa in the first and second phase, respectively.

He said that 50 prominent figures were shortlisted for the third season.

He stated that awards were given in several categories so that no noted personality could be left out.

The categories enlisted young entrepreneurs, social activists and women rights promoters. The award for minority talent was also reserved, which meant an inclusive approach to widen the scope of social and cultural activities in the province.

Noted folk singers Bakhtiar Khattak, Hamza Jamshid, Parisha Khan and Kashmala also spoke on the occasion.

The awards ceremony was followed by a musical concert in which noted Pashto folk singers including Moeez Khan, Wisal Khial and Mahnoor sang popular numbers and received thunderous applause from the charged participants.