LAHORE, March 3: On the completion of 75 years of Progressive Writers Association of Pakistan, a seminar was organised at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in which writers and intellectuals threw light on the goals and objectives of the body.
Writers from Lahore as well as other cities of the country participated in the seminar.
On the occasion, Rauf Paris from Ghotki (Sindh) said progressive thinking was there in Sindh since days of Sufi poets such as Shah Abdul Latif Batahi who professed it through their poetry.
He mentioned those Sindhi personalities who worked devotionally in Sindh for PWA.Dr Zia-ul-Hasan from Punjab University emphasised the need for highlighting regional literature, besides that produced in Urdu. He said regional literature had a rich content and work should also be done on it.
He said the PWA should broaden its area of penetration among the masses, regretting that attendance at the seminar was thin.
Rasheed Misbah said the PWA, since its inception, had been trying to create awareness in society through literary works despite facing hardships.
He said martial laws damaged three generations of this country, adding whenever a change would come in Pakistanit would be because of the progressive thought process.
Dr Badaru Din from Sindh said that in the interior of the province five PWA units had been set up and soon a bilingual magazine would also be published featuring Urdu and Sindhi writings.
PWA vice-president Dr Aslam Tariq said literature, poetry and short fiction should be based on emotions rather than political or economic issues.
Writer and intellectual DR Saadat Saeed said progressive literature was always produced from heart. Others who spoke on the occasion included Dr Qazi Abid, Saleem Raz and Abid Hussain Abid. Staff Reporter
