All set for first-ever Parveen Shakir Urdu Literature Festival in Toronto
\nIslamabad
\nA delegation of the Parveen Shakir Trust (PST) including Urdu writers, poets and scholars left for Canada under the leadership of the trust chairperson Parveen Qadir Agha to participate in the Parveen Shakir Urdu Literature Festival and Urdu Mushaira (poetry recital) to be held on Saturday, April 20.
\nThe visit of the prominent literary figures is taking place at the behest of the vice chairman of the trust Syed Murad Ali, son of the late poetess Parveen Shakir (1952-1994) who has been credited for giving voice to the female sensitivities and is seen as a role model by those women, particularly girls in Pakistan who want to realize their dreams in life and to make their mark in the male-dominated society.
\nAnother highlight of the visit is launch of the PST Canada chapter.
\nPakistan\u2019s Consul General in Toronto Mr Khalil Ahmed Bajwa will be one of the noted guests on the occasion.
\nMembers Parliament (MPs) of Canada Iqra Khalid and Shafqat Ali and Pakistan\u2019s acclaimed Urdu fiction writer Mazharul Islam will also be among the guests of honour at the launching ceremony of the PST Canada chapter.
\nA marathon reading of Parveen Shakir\u2019s poems is also part of the Literature Festival and among those who will read out selected works of the poetess include Mehtab Akbar Rashdi, eminent scholar and TV anchor, Dr Rubina Siddique, Nasreen Syed, Rida Fatima and Anjeela Wajhi.
\nA dialogue on literary ties betwewn Canada and Pakistan will also feature in the inaugural day ceremony. Those who will advocate stronger literary ties between Pakistan and Canada and speak on the occasion include Ambassador Karamat Ullah Ghauri, Dr Asad Naseer, Syed Taqui Abidi and Dr Ziaul Hassan.
\nThe highlight of the day, however will be the grand Urdu poetry recital or Mushaira to be participated by the Pakistani and the Canadian-Pakistani poets.
\nPakistan\u2019s noted scholar Hameeda Shahen will preside over the Mushaira while Nasreen Syed will conduct the proceedings.
\nA large number of the Pakistani expats and their families particularly those who have been inspired by Parveen Shakir\u2019s poems and ghazals since their childhood and youth days, are expected to attend the event.
\nAccording to the host Syed Murad Ali the event is by invitation and \u201cwe have advanced conformation for all the seats.\u201d
\nParveen Qadir Agha Chairperson of the PST expressed her delight at the formal launch of the PST Canada chapter, saying \u201cWe are going to become international and it is in continuation of our desire for growth and expansion.\u201d
\nIt will also lead to our opening such chapters in other parts of the world, she said giving the credit to the \u201cproud son of Parveen Shakir.\u201d
\nThe poetry of Parveen Shakir is by now international with having been translated into English, Italian, French, German, Persian, Japanese, Sindhi, Gujarati, Hindi and even Arabic, she said.
\nShe also paid compliments to Mazharul Islam who has conceived and formulated the event in Canada.
\nWe are looking forward to a great literary activity which will also serve as a platform to bring the Pakistani community together, she added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
All set for first-ever Parveen Shakir Urdu Literature Festival in Toronto Islamabad A delegation of the Parveen Shakir Trust (PST) including Urdu writers, poets and scholars left for Canada under the leadership of the trust chairperson Parveen Qadir Agha to participate in the Parveen Shakir Urdu Literature Festival and Urdu Mushaira (poetry recital) to be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":376274,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-400860","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n