Three roads named after two writers, a folk artist

ISLAMABAD:

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has named three service roads after two writers and a folk singer posthumously in recognition of their services in literature and art. The CDA board made the decision at a meeting chaired by its Chairman Syed Tahir Shahbaz on Monday.     

The Service Road (West) of Sector G-9 has been named after Shanul Haq Haqqi (late), a noted Urdu poet, writer, journalist, broadcaster, translator, critic, researcher, linguist and lexicographer of Pakistan besides being the winner of Sitara-i-Imtiaz and Tamgha-e-Quaid-i-Azam.

Service Road East in G-7 has been named after Muhammad Mansha Yaad (late), a prominent short-story writer, playwright and Pride of Performance Award winner.

Yaad remained associated with PTV and Radio Pakistan for decades and proved his mettle as a playwright and storyteller. The famous Urdu drama serial “Rahain” was based on his award-winning Punjabi novel “Tanwan Tanwan Tara”. His other famous play included ‘Junoon’, ‘Bandhan’, “Pooray Chand ki Raat” and “Awaz”. “Band Muthi main Jugnoo” and “Khala Andar Khala” are two of his most famous short stories. Besides, he served as Executive Engineer, Public Relations Officer and deputy director in the CDA till 1997.

“His stories always reflected his love for people and the pain he felt for the common man,” said renowned writer Arshad Mehmood.

Yaad’s first short story appeared in 1955, when he was only 18. However, his first collection appeared in 1975. He published 10 collections of short stories in his lifetime.

The CDA Board also approved the naming of Service Road (South) Sector G-9 after Tufail Niazi (late), a renowned folk singer from Punjab and a recipient of Presidential Pride of Performance Award. The summary would now be forwarded to the Cabinet Division for seeking final approval.

(Additional input by APP.)

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20^th, 2013.