PAL remembers Ahmed Faraz on 13th death anniversary

Ahmed Faraz won a number of accolades, including Nagar Award, Sitara-e-Imtiaz, and Hilal-e-Imtiaz

ISLAMABAD:

Renowned Urdu poet and the first head of Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) Ahmed Faraz was remembered on his 13th death anniversary on Wednesday.

On the occasion, eminent writers, scholars and PAL Chairman Dr Yousuf Khushk offered fateha at the grave of Ahmad Faraz under the auspices of the PAL. Senior officials and staff members of the academy along with the writer's community also participated, stated a press release on Wednesday.

On the occasion, PAL chairman said that Ahmed Faraz was a great poet and equally popular among poets and the public. Later, a short prayer session was also held for him.

Faraz was born in Kohat on January 12, 1931, and was given the name Syed Ahmad Shah. He received his education from Peshawar and received Masters's degree in Persian and Urdu from Edwardes College.

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He later taught at Peshawar University and was a member of the Progressive Writers Movement (PWM) as well. Faraz was the first chairman of PAL and also headed the National Book Foundation.

He was a recipient of a number of national and international accolades, including the Nagar Award, Sitara-e-Imtiaz, and Hilal-e-Imtiaz. He died on August 25, 2008, of kidney failure and was buried in Islamabad's graveyard.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2021.