Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, Federal Minister for the National Heritage and Culture Division, assured full cooperation for literary organizations while speaking at the inaugural session of the second ten-day Interprovincial Residential Program for Young Writers at the Sheikh Ayaz Conference Hall of the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL).
The minister said writers have a central role in guiding the nation’s moral and intellectual direction and reiterated the government’s commitment to backing institutions that promote literature. He underlined that the ministry will extend practical support to initiatives that discover and nurture literary talent across Pakistan.
Dr. Najeeba Arif, chairperson of PAL, called for greater attention to discovering writers from South Punjab and praised PAL’s ongoing efforts to bring new voices into the mainstream. She paid tribute to the late Senator Irfan Siddiqui for his services to literary institutions and disclosed that a summary has been forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office proposing an increase in writers’ honorarium to Rs 25,000, with plans for further enhancement to benefit creators nationwide.
Asad Rehman Gilani, Secretary of the National Heritage and Culture Division, commended PAL’s role in uniting writers from across the country and said the Ministry of Culture remains actively involved in creating platforms for literary exchange. His remarks highlighted inter-agency collaboration to strengthen institutional support for literary organizations.
Renowned poet Iftikhar Arif emphasized that any work produced in any language is part of Pakistani literature and urged equal respect for all languages. He advised emerging writers to root their work in their land, reflect their era and honour their language, stressing that meaningful change in society often begins with the written word.
The Pakistan Academy of Letters, operating under the National Heritage and Culture Division, is hosting the program from January 15 to January 24, 2026. The initiative aims to introduce writers from remote areas to the capital’s literary circles, sharpen creative skills and explore new literary possibilities while fostering unity and intellectual exchange among participants from different provinces.
Participants will reside at the PAL guest house and engage in a range of literary activities including Academy events, visits to educational and cultural institutions, meetings with distinguished literary figures and opportunities to present their work. Twenty writers, selected from all four provinces, are taking part in the program which will conclude on January 24.
