10-day stay in capital promises lifetime learning for budding writers, poets
In its second year, the Pakistan Academy of Letters’ (PAL) Inter-provincial Residential Programme has emerged as a beacon of hope for young and aspiring writers and poets hailing from the country’s far-flung regions, offering them a rare opportunity to engage directly with leading literary figures in the federal capital.
A total of 20 writers from all four provinces have been selected for the program, which will conclude on January 24.
The 2026 edition of the programme was formally inaugurated on Friday at the PAL premises, with Minister for Culture and National Heritage Aurangzeb Khichi attending as the chief guest, while renowned poet and intellectual IftikharArif presided over the ceremony. The initiative brings together emerging literary voices from remote areas of Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for an intensive 10-day residential stay in Islamabad.
The inaugural event was also attended by Secretary National Heritage and Culture Division AsadRehmanGilani, along with a distinguished gathering of writers and poets including HameedShahid, ManzarNaqvi, HameedQaiser and AfshanAbbasi. Their presence underscored the importance of sustained mentorship and intellectual exchange in nurturing new literary talent.
During the programme, participants will attend interactive sessions, readings and workshops with veteran poets, fiction writers and literary scholars from Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The initiative aims to expose young writers to diverse literary traditions, contemporary critical thought and the practical aspects of pursuing a serious literary career.
Addressing the participants, Minister Aurangzeb Khichi lauded PAL Chairperson DrNajeebaArif for conceptualising and implementing what he termed a “unique and visionary” programme. He said hosting young writers from distant and underrepresented regions in the capital was a meaningful step towards promoting inclusivity and national literary integration.
“These ten days will become a lifelong memory for you,” the minister remarked, adding that the participants would encounter some of the most influential voices of Pakistani literature during their stay. He assured the young writers of the government’s continued support for initiatives aimed at cultural and literary development.
Presiding over the ceremony, IftikharArif highlighted the transformative power of literature in bridging geographical and cultural divides. He emphasized that programmes like this not only polish creative skills but also instil confidence and a sense of belonging among writers from marginalized areas.
