RIYADH, 5 September 2007 — Pakistan Writers Club-Riyadh (PWC) marked the 61th Independence Day of Pakistan by hosting a “mushaira” on Thursday.
Pakistani Ambassador retired Adm. Shahid Karimullah was the chief guest and Professor Syed Mashkoor Hussain Yaad, an Urdu scholar, writer and poet, presided.
In all 20 poets from Riyadh and elsewhere in the Kingdom presented their poems. They included Naim Awan, Syed Khawaja Nehaluddin, Sajjad Saleem, Shaukat Jamal, Ghulam Fareed Bhutta, Sadaf Fareedi, Hesham Syed, Yusuf Ali Yusuf and Iqbal Qamar of the Eastern Province.
The ambassador appreciated the traditional “Farshi Nashist” (sitting on carpeted floor), which he said was one of the attractions of the day. He impressed upon all Pakistanis to take pride in the achievements of their country and continue to work hard toward its future development. He especially asked all to shun despondency especially in the backdrop of the present political turmoil in the country.
“All these are part of the evolutionary process through which all nations have passed. Pakistan will come out of it and continue to march on the path of progress and glory,” he said.
Faiz Al-Najdi, president of PWC, thanked the ambassador and the community for their continued support to PWC for organizing functions on the occasion of Pakistan’s national days.
Mementos were given to Professor Mashkoor for his achievements in Urdu literature and Universal Pak Cross, a Christian minority organization, for their hard work in hosting a program for commemorating Pakistan’s Independence Day.
