President Asif Ali Zardari has condoled the death of noted columnist, writer, author and teacher Dr Zahoor Awan. The President, in a condolence message, said that Dr Awan was a great patriot, a prolific writer and above all a sensitive and noble soul.
Dr Awan was a national asset and his creative writings on various subjects are beacon of light for coming generation, said noted poet, intellectual and National Language Authority (NLA) Chairperson Iftikhar Arif, said a press release here on Monday.
In a condolence message, the NLA chief said Awan’s writings will continue to provide guidance to the book lovers. He was a man who always raised voice against injustices in dictatorial regimes. Dr Awan who died in Peshawar on Sunday, has served in different educational institutes of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. He did his PhD from Peshawar University and wrote research article titled “Iqbal and Afghan.”
He served in Urdu Department of Peshawar University as an adviser for students of MA, MPhil and PhD and had been writing columns for Urdu dailies `Mashriq’ and `Aaj’ for the last 30 years. He wrote over 50 books on linguistics, Iqbaliat, Pakistaniat, Peshawariat, travelogues, biographies, translations, literary and critical columns which are valuable addition in Urdu literature.
Awan was also awarded Tamgha-e-Imtiaz by the government for his remarkable services for the promotion of Urdu literature. He also received Bank of Khyber Award, City Government Award, Pak-Turk Friendship and Allama Niaz Fatehpuri Awards.
Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) Chairperson Fakhar Zaman expressed grief over the sad demise of Prof Awan. In his condolence message, Zaman said that Prof Awan had written Hindko, Urdu, English books besides a number of columns which are considered trendsetting publications in Urdu literature. He also translated the work of great Hindko mystic poet Sain Ahmad Ali Pishawari into Urdu.
The PAL chief described the death of Prof Awan a great loss to Urdu literature.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 5th, 2011.
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