Zubair Qureshi
The Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) has announced the Kamal-e-Fun Award, Pakistan’s highest literary award, for the renowned poet of Urdu Zafar Iqbal for the year 2021. Chairperson of the PAL, Dr Najeeba Arif announced Zafar Iqbal’s name calling him a trend-setter poet at a brief media interaction Thursday as the panel of judges reached a unanimous decision after a tediously long meeting.
The judges’ committee comprised well-known senior writers and scholars including Munir Ahmad Badini, Dr. Nazeer Tabassum, Dr. Tahseen Firaqui, Dr. Rauf Parekh, Sarwat Mohyuddin, Dr. Abaseen Yousafzai, Musarat Kalanchvi, Dr. Adal Soomro, Mubeen Mirza, Dr. Rubina Shaheen, Muhammad Qasim Naseem, Dr. Abdul Aziz Sahir and Afzal Murad met here today on October 19, 2023 in the office of Pakistan Academy of Letters, Islamabad. Munir Ahmad Badini presided over the meeting.
Kamal-e-Fun Award is the highest literary award in the field of literature for recognition of lifetime’s achievement in creative and research work. The amount that accompanies the award is Rs1 million.
Dr Najeeba Arif also announced the National Literary Awards for the year 2021, given on the best literary books written during the year 2021 in Urdu and other Pakistani languages in a Press Conference.
According to the decision of the panel, for Urdu Prose (Creative Literature) Saadat Hasan Manto Award is given to Irfan Javaid on his Book “Ajaib Khana” for Urdu Prose (Criticism & Research) Baba-i-Urdu Molvi Abdul Haq Award is given to Tauseef Tabassum on his book “Yahee Aakhir Ko Thahera Fun Hamara”, for Urdu Poetry, Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal Award is given to Iftikhar Arif on his book “Bagh-e-Gul Surakh”, for Punjabi Poetry Syed Waris Shah Award is given to Nasir Baloch on his book “Un Mia Bhaar” and to Shafqat Hussain on his Book “Kon Koiian De Jorr”, for Punjabi Prose Afzal Ahsan Randhawa Award is given to Zahid Hasan on his book “Kahani Ik Maan Di”, for Sindhi Poetry Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai Award is given to Khalida Nasreen on her book “Deewan” for Sindhi Prose Mirza Qaleech Baig Award is given to Zubaida Berwani on her book “Aaradhni” , for Pushto Poetry Khushhal Khan Khattak Award is given to Laiq Zada Laiq on his book “Da Watan Sandere”, for Pushto Prose Muhammad Ajmal Khan Khattak Award is given to Dr. Waqar Ali Shah on his book “Abdul Ghani Khan Zond o Zaman”, for Balochi Prose Syed Zahoor Shah Hashmi Award is given to Dr. Fazal Khaliq on his book “ Sheeshlo”, for Balochi Poetry Mast Tawakli Award is given to Masroor Shad on his book “ Charag Laib ae Ant” for Seraiki Poetry Khwaja Ghulam Fareed Award is given to Malik Ashtar on his book “Nazmen De Mujasme” for Seraiki Prose Dr. Maher Abdul Haq Award is given to Hafeez Khan on his book “Hik Raat Da Sijh” for Brahui Poetry Taj Muhammad Tajal Award is given to Rahim Naz on his book “Dasimsara” for Brahui Prose Ghulam Nabi Rahi Award is given to Zauq Brahui on his book “Brahui Giri”, for Hindko Poetry Saeen Ahmad Ali Award is given to Imtiaz ul Haq Imtiaz on his book “Adhi Dua”, for Hindko Prose Khatir Ghaznavi Award is given to Gul Arbab on her Book “Titley, Terail Te Tareemat”, for English Prose Pitras Bukhari Award is given to Arshad Waheed on his book “Other Days” , for English Poetry Daud Kamal Award is given to Saher Hashmi on her Book “Othered:” for Translation Muhamamd Hasan Askari Award is given to Saeed Naqvi on his book “Ishtea’al Kee Fasal”
The award money Rs200,000/- will be given to each of the award winners for the National Literary Award 2021.
