News
Friday, January 11, 2013
Writers, intellectuals can help counter challenges faced by country: PM* Raja urges them to use force of their pen to help change extremist mindset, bring about a positive change in society
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said on Thursday that Pakistan was in a state of war and only the vision of its writers and intellectuals can help the country cope with the grave challenges it was facing.
Addressing a gathering at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, the prime minister said the society in particular needed a message of peace, love and tranquility, as it was the best weapon against extremism and terrorism, that has held the nation hostage. “We just urge you to use the force of your pen to help change the extremist mindset, and bring about a positive change in the society,” the prime minister said.
He said throughout its tenure, the present government faced unabated criticism, but it showed a similar degree of tolerance as it was passing through a period of transition. He said that with the passage of time, society will grow more tolerant, which would also help counter extremist mindset. He said the writers generally referred to “suffocation” in society in their writings and said the intellectuals exercise openness and freedom of expression during a democratic dispensation.
The prime minister recalled that he often had to face criticism when he held the portfolio of the Ministry of Water and Power. He said that once parliamentarian Bushra Rehman read out a poem in Parliament House about his ministry, much to the amusement of its members. Raja said it reflected that democracy was more tolerant as she had never read the poem when the country faced load shedding during the era of dictatorship.
On the demand of the Pakistan Academy of Letters, he announced Rs 30 million for the completion of an auditorium, and doubled the amount of “Qamal-e-fun” award from Rs 0.5 million to Rs 1 million and that of other awards from Rs 100,000 to Rs 200,000. He also raised the amount of stipend from Rs 5000, equivalent to the minimum wage of Rs 7000. The prime minister, who earlier distributed awards amongst writers for their outstanding work, said it was an honour for him to hand it over to the writers.
He said it was Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who laid the foundation of the Pakistan Academy of Letters for the welfare of the intellectuals and writers of the country. He said being a political worker, it was a privilege for him to address the august gathering as he seeks their guidance in everyday affairs. Prime Minister Raja said the theme of the two-day International writers conference, “literature and democracy”, was very apt as it reflected the freedom enjoyed by the writers and intellectuals in a democratic era.
Raja hoped the conference would help strengthen national cohesion and bring about positivity in society. He said it would help counter extremist mindset that was bent upon forcing their way of life on others and termed it the most condemnable act, which needs to be rejected forcefully. The event was attended by 25 foreign writers and 650 local intellectuals. It was attended among others by writers Intzar Hussain, Bano Qudsia, Mustansir Hussain Tarrar, Fakher Zaman, Anver Shaur, Fehmeeda Riaz, Ataul Qasmi, Zohira Nigah, Anver Sadeed, Amjad Islam Amjid, Shakeel Adil Zada, Peerzada Qasim and Dr Khursheed Rizvi.
Minister for National Heritage and Integration Samina Khalid Ghurki lauded the role of writers and intellectuals in strengthening of the nation and giving it a positive vision and direction. She said only the writers and intellectuals stand firm when confronted by dictators and despots and remained committed to the values of freedom and justice. Pakistan Academy of Letters Chairman Abdul Hameed gave an overview of the performance of the organisation and the problems it was facing for the welfare of the intellectuals.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk