Govt to publish peace promoting literature

PESHAWAR, April 16: Provincial Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain on Saturday said that poetry and literary work that promoted fine sensibilities, peace and spirit of goodwill among masses would be published at the government expenses. Speaking as chief guest at the humorous Pashto poetry recital arranged by the Cultural Committee of Peshawar Press Club here, Mr Hussain asked the poets and writers to come forward and play their due role in countering philistinism and promoting peace in the region. He said that people still had an urge to laugh despite terrorism and militancy in the province and the country. He said that hujra used to be a place where hardworking Pashtuns would shake off their daylong labour and fatigue by telling interesting stories, riddles, anecdotes and arranging musical programmes. He said that hujra was a fit place for catharsis where elders would teach lessons on values and social norms of the Pashtun society to youngsters. He regretted that due to various reasons Pashtun hujra, which was once a social institution, had lost its past glory and prestige with which many golden values also eroded. As a result, the youngsters of today are unaware of their history and traditions and have no place to draw inspiration from and express their pent up emotions. The minister lauded the efforts of the committee for arranging the mushaira at a time when agony and fear had gripped the society owing to the ongoing terrorism and extremism. "Even the educational institutions have stopped to arrange co-curricular activities. When I was student of the Government College Peshawar years ago, there used to be debates, group discussions, sports galas and stage dramas," he recalled. He asked the Pashto poets to continue composing verses carrying criticism of social norms and government policies and make people laugh at their own follies and faults. Earlier, Press Club Cultural Committee chairman Ehtisham Toru thanked the minister and participating poets and said that they would also arrange such events in future. The function was president by Dad Mohammad Dilsoz and other prominent poets who presented their poetry included Mehar Mohammad Mehar, Hizar Hayat Hayat, Noor Mohammad Shaida, Gulshan Ghamgeen Afridi, Itibar Gul Zarrah Swandey, Mukhtiyar Ali Mukhtiyar, Sadiq Sargardan, Noor Said Qureshi and Mohammad Anwar Anwar.