Pen’s power: Writers urged to promote country’s soft image

Prominent writers, poets and intellectuals from Egypt, India, Russia, Vietnam and Pakistan are among foreign delegates

ISLAMABAD:

Speakers at an international conference on Monday urged writers and intellectuals to play their role in promoting the soft image of the country through their work.      

While addressing the International Writers’ Conference, organised by the Afro-Asian Writers Union (AAWU) Pakistan chapter in collaboration with the Strengthening Participatory Organizations (SPO), Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Barrister Mohsin Shah Nawaz Ranjah said writers and intellectual were regarded as opinion makers in any society and they could play effective role in defeating extremist tendencies through the power of pen.

He said the country was facing numerous challenges including the issue of terrorism which has crept into the very fabric of the society.

He also appreciated the organisers of the conference for providing a platform to intellectuals from different countries to share their views.

The three-day literary conference, themed, “Designs of Global Cultural Hegemony and Writers Role in Defense of Heritage, Culture and Peace”, has seen attendance by national and international writers, scholars and intellectuals.

Prominent writers, poets and intellectuals from Egypt, India, Russia, Vietnam, Nepal, China and Pakistan are among the foreign delegates. They include Dr Najeeb Jamal, Naseer Memon, Dr. Tash Mirza Khalmirzaev, Tahir Zaland, Khawar Mumtaz, Dr Sukhdev Singh, Mohammad Salmawy, Kishwar Naheed, Dr Helmi Al Hadidi, Dr Ali Javed and Rahat Saeed. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2014.