**National Book Foundation Honors Writers at Awards Ceremony in Islamabad**
The National Book Foundation (NBF), operating under the Federal Ministry of Education and Professional Training, organized an awards and certificate distribution ceremony in Islamabad to honor authors and literary figures who have contributed to the Foundation’s publishing projects. The event, held at Islamabad Club, brought together key education officials, celebrated writers, and literary enthusiasts to recognize the invaluable services of the country’s leading authors.
Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, served as the chief guest at the event. Special guests included Minister of State for Education Wajiha Qamar, Parliamentary Secretary Farah Naz Akbar, and Additional Federal Secretary Hasan Saqlain. In his address, Dr. Siddiqui emphasized the significance and challenges of promoting book culture in an age dominated by electronic media. He expressed pride in the National Book Foundation’s persistent efforts to encourage a reading habit, especially among the younger generation, and highlighted the need for innovative initiatives to make literature more accessible.
Dr. Siddiqui underscored the rapid pace of global development and stressed the importance of keeping up with educational and technological advancements. He called for greater efforts to foster intellectual growth and innovation, stating that the services of the nation’s writers, poets, researchers, and scientists are crucial for progress. He lauded the National Book Foundation’s role in facilitating these contributions and noted that such recognition ceremonies are essential for motivating and inspiring further creativity at the national level.
During the ceremony, Minister of State Wajiha Qamar, Parliamentary Secretary Farah Naz Akbar, Federal Secretary Nadeem Mehmood, and NBF Managing Director Dr. Kamran Jahangir joined Dr. Siddiqui in presenting the awards and certificates to the honored authors. Dr. Jahangir expressed gratitude to the distinguished guests for their support and involvement, noting that the Foundation’s literary activities thrive because of their ongoing encouragement.
Among the award recipients were notable writers and poets such as Dr. Maqsood Jafri, Mehboob Zafar, Dr. Nisar Turabi, Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah, Abu Ahmad Akif, General Muhammad Tahir, Kokab Khawaja, Naeem Fatima Alvi, Dr. Amjad Bhatti, Abdul Wajid Tabassum, Muhammad Arif, Muhammad Shoaib Khan, Raja Muhammad Afridi, Dr. Saleem Ullah, and Professor Javed Mohsin, along with several others.
The event was attended by former NBF Managing Directors Dr. Inam Ul Haq Javed and Rao Muhammad Aslam, along with senior officials from education and literary organizations. Nazia Rehman adeptly served as the master of ceremonies, ensuring the event proceeded smoothly. The ceremony highlighted the ongoing commitment of the National Book Foundation to celebrating and nurturing literary talent across Pakistan.
