Celebrated poet Iftikhar Arif was honored with the Kamal-e-Fun Award for the year 2023 on Thursday in recognition of his outstanding contributions to literature. The award was presented by the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) during a ceremony held at its headquarters in Islamabad.
A special meeting convened for this purpose was chaired by Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, Madad Ali Sindhi.
The jury for the award consisted of eminent writers and scholars, including Dr. Inam ul Haq Javed, Asghar Nadeem Syed, Parveen Malik, Madad Ali Sindhi, Anwer Sen Roy, Dr. Rauf Parekh, Dr. Abaseen Yousafzai, Neelofar Iqbal, Hassam Hur, Hafeez Khan, Dr. Safeer Awan, Dr. Wahid Bukhsh Buzdar, Abdul Qayoom Bedar, Dr. Nasir Abbas Nayyar, and Dr. Baseera Ambreen.
The Kamal-e-Fun Award is the highest literary honor in Pakistan, bestowed for a lifetime of excellence in creative and scholarly literary work. The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 1,000,000.
Dr. Najeeba Arif, Chairperson, PAL has also announced the National Literary Awards for the year 2023, given on the best literary books written during the year 2023 in Urdu and other Pakistani languages in a press conference.
According to the decision of the panel, for Urdu Prose (Creative Literature) Saadat Hasan Manto Award was given to Tahira Iqbal on her Book “Harrpa”, for Urdu Prose (Criticism & Research) Baba-i-Urdu Molvi Abdul Haq Award was given to Dr. Amjad Tufail and Farrukh Yaar on their books “Hamasar Urdu Afsana” and “Isheq Nama” on his book “Urdu Adab Maholiati Tanazur”, for Urdu Poetry, Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal Award was given to Ghulam Hussain Sajid on his book “Tajawuz”, for Punjabi Poetry Syed Waris Shah Award was given to Qabil Jafferi on his Book “Uppar” for Punjabi Prose Afzal Ahsan Randhawa Award was given to Naseer Ahmad on his book “Kih Paatar Da Jeevna”, for Sindhi Poetry Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai Award was given to Abrar Abro on his book “Akhun Khe Pandh Karno Aa” and for Sindhi Prose Mirza Qaleech Baig Award was given to Dr. Mushtaq Bagani on his book “Nagar Thate Jo Samaj”.
For Pushto Poetry Khushhal Khan Khattak Award was given to M.R Shafaq on his book “Gul Rang”, and for Pushto Prose Muhammad Ajmal Khan Khattak Award was given to Abdul Karim Baryale on his book “Da Kulyato Da Matan Inteqadi Serena, for Balochi Prose Syed Zahoor Shah Hashmi Award was given to Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yousuf on his book “Balochi a Brahui Zubanani Siali” and for Balochi Poetry Mast Tawakli Award was given to Wahab Shohaz on his book “Charagan Dam Na Burtag.
The Award money Rs. 200,000/- would be given to each of Award winner for the National Literary Award 2023.
