PAL announces Rs5m awards for writers, poets.

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) on Monday announced cash awards amounting to Rs5 million for 21 writers and poets.

Moreover, prominent writer and novelist from Balochistan Munir Ahmad Badini was nominated for Kamal-i-Fan Award 2018.

This was announced by PAL Chairman Dr Yousuf Khushk at a press conference after an online meeting of the Kamal Fan Award committee.

The panel of judges consisted of writers and scholars Masood Ashar, Prof Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, Noorul Huda Shah, Prof Dr Rauf Parekh, Qazi Javed, Dr Nasrullah Khan Nasir, Mohammad Ayub Baloch, Noor Mohammad Khan Hasni, Dr Salma Shaheen, Nasir Ali Syed, Mohammad Hasan Hasrat and Haris Khalique.

Prominent novelist from Balochistan Munir Ahmad Badini nominated for Kamal-i-Fan Award

The Rs1 million Kamal-i-Fun Awardis the highest literary award in creative and research work.

Dr Khushk also announced the National Literary Award for the year 2018 given on the best literary books written during the year in Urdu and other Pakistani languages.

He said according to the decision of different panels of judges for Urdu prose Saadat Hasan Manto Award (creative literature) was given to Hasan Manzar's book Jhijak, Baba-i-Urdu Molvi Abdul Haq Award (criticism and research) to Dr Tahseen Firaqui's book Nikat, Urdu poetry Dr Allama Mohammad Iqbal Award was given to Zahera Nigahon on Gul-i-Chandni, Syed Waris Shah Award (Punjabi poetry) was given to Rai Mohammad Khan Nasir's book Hadak.

Afzal Ahsan Randhawa Award (Punjabi prose) was given to Ahmad Shahbaz Khawar's book Ghunnu, Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai Award (Sindhi poetry) was given to Wafa Nathan Shahi's book Aayo Jhol Bhare, Mirza Qaleech Baig Award (Sindhi prose) was given to Zaib Sindhion's book Aakhri Manhoo, Khushhal Khan Khattak Award (Pushto poetry) was given to Afrasiab Khattak's book Nawe Tegh, Mohammad Ajmal Khan Khattak Award (Pushto prose) was given to Dr Qazi Hanif Ullah Hanif's book Pashto Shairi Ke Sainsi Shaoor O Izhar.

Mast Tawakli Award (Balochi poetry) was given to Inayatullah Qaumion's bookBiya Kapoot Vish Na Lagen. Syed Zahoor Shah Hashmi Award (Balochi prose) to Akbar Barakzaion's book Zaban Zantiu Balochi Zaban Zanti...