NA Speaker Congratulates Shamoon Hashmi for receiving prestigious award.

ISLAMABAD -- National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Deputy Speaker Zahid Akram Durrani on Thursday warmly felicitated Additional Secretary National Assembly Syed Shamoon Hashmi for receiving the Presidential pride of performance award on the occasion of Pakistan Day.

In their congratulatory messages, they said that the whole staff of the National Assembly was jubilious that Additional Secretary Syed Shamoon Hashmi was awarded pride of performance in recognition of his services for promoting national language, culture, heritage, and people's rights.

They also said that the marvellous services of Syed Shamoon Hashmi have set the highest standards to be followed by all staff of the National Assembly.

They also expressed that this award is an acknowledgement of the services of Syed Shamoon Hashmi who has been a renowned national host and prolific writer.

It is pertinent to mention that Syed Shamoon Hashmi claims an illustrious career, spanning over three decades of services on Pakistan Television, Radio Pakistan and the print and electronic media at large for the promotion of national language, culture, heritage, literature and people's rights.

He has been an ardent advocate of Urdu, immaculate compere, seasoned bureaucrat, author, columnist and staunch supporter of democracy and women's rights, Hashmi has various accolades to his name.

By means of his articulate Urdu and eloquence of speech, he has kept the glorious tradition of PTV alive as the true campaigner of the national language.

He was also deservingly awarded the coveted PTV Award in the category of Best Compere in 2004.

His programme, currently on air on PTV, 'Raat Gaye' is well-received among Urdu lovers around the world.

Furthermore, Syed Shamoon Hashmi has stayed at the forefront, both at times of a national crisis and a national celebration.

His commitment to the national service, flair for Urdu and dexterity with words was met with acknowledgment, when he was awarded 'Tamgha-e-Eissar' by the President of Pakistan for leading the earthquake relief TV telethon "Dard Ashna" in 2006.

He also led the efforts for raising funds for the...