Tribute to Gul Nawaz Khaki: Govt asked to promote regional languages

PESHAWAR, Dec 25: A reference was organized in memory of Gul Nawaz Khaki at the Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday. It may be noted that Gul Nawaz Khaki died in Chitral on November 11 at the age of 76. Speakers at the reference included literary personalities, poets, writers, politicians and people from different walks of life. The reference was organized by Anjuman Taraqi-e-Khowar Peshawar chapter. The speakers urged the government to focus on the development of regional languages and support the writers of the hitherto neglected areas. Those who spoke on the occasion included MPAs Saleem Khan, Fauzia Bibi, Professor Israruddin, Sadiq Haji and journalist Sharif Shukeb. They said that Kahwar was the third major language of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the late poet, writer Gul Nawaz Khaki had played a vital role in strengthening the language through his poetry, write-ups and prose books. Kahwar, they said, was spoken by people of Chitral and other parts of northern areas but the successive governments had failed to give proper attention on its development. However, the local writers and poets like Gul Nawaz kept the language alive. The speakers also recalled that the late poet had written drama plays and write-ups on local culture, traditions and inspired the people through his academic and poetic work and that was why locals were recalling his contribution to the neglected language. The MPAs suggested that the government should supervise the regional languages, and writers should be given national awards so that they could be saved from distinction.–Dawn]]>