‘Literature must highlight, resolve our social problems’

PHEC chairman says researchers must contribute towards development of policies

LAHORE: Literature is the name given to creativity; our literature must highlight and resolve the problems faced by our society, said Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) Chairman Dr Nizamuddin.

He was addressing the first national conference on “Counter Balancing Politics and Aesthetics in Pakistani Literature” on Saturday.

The event was organised by the Punjab University (PU) Department of English Language and Literature, the PHEC and the Punjab Information and Culture Department and was attended by renowned artists, faculty members and a large number of students.

Our researchers must also contribute to the development of policies and must come forward to resolve the issue of our society, he added.



One of the problems of social sciences is that our research is not connected to our society. Such work becomes meaningless, he maintained. He advised researchers to relate their work to our current realities thus coming up with solutions.

PU Vice Chancellor Nasira Jabeen said that the topic of counter balancing politics and aesthetics in literature was an emerging issue locally as well as globally.

Academic debates must be initiated to discuss such issues as it is important to strike a balance between the two, she expressed. Punjab Information and Culture Department Additional Secretary Saman Rai said that we must give priority to our culture and must make it a point to study literature.

Department of English Language and Literature Chairperson Dr Amra Raza said that department had organized 59 events including seminars, talks and training programmes.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2018.