ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday stressed the need for Operation Zarb-e-Qalam to fight the forces spreading extremism and intolerance in the society.
“Just like Operation Zarb-e-Azb, there is a dire need for operation Zarb-e-Qalam. I believe that the writers, poets and intellectuals have a key role for elimination of terrorism,” he said addressing the inaugural session of fourth international conference on language, literature and society, organized by the Pakistan Academy of Letters. The opening session of the four-day conference was attended by Adviser to Prime Minister on National History and Literary Heritage Irfan Siddiqui, Turkish Intellectual, Dr Jalil Tauqar and writers and poets from Iran, Spain, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Singapore, Oman, Maldives, Lebanon, China and Germany.
Speaking highly of writers and intellectuals and their role for peace and harmony in society, he said they were the most precious asset of any society as, though their works, they eliminated hatred, differences and bring the people closer to each other.
He said through Operation Zarb-e-Azb, the government and security forces had broken the backbone of terrorists and reiterated his government’s resolve to revive peace and love in the country. Nawaz announced Rs 500 million endowment fund for the promotion of national history and literary heritage besides the welfare of writers and intellectuals.
He also sought a proposal for an aid package to support the artists, serving in the fields of music, drama, films and calligraphy who unfortunately lead a miserable life at a certain stage after having entertained millions of the people throughout their lives.
Besides announcing the establishment of Rs 1 million Intizar Hussain Award, he increased the number of beneficiaries of insurance cover from current 354 intellectuals to 700, annual awards from 11 to 20 and number of writers, entitled for support from 500 to 1,000.
Nawaz said the writers and intellectuals were the heart, brain and spirit of society as they not only addressed the current situation but also kept an eye on the future. He said writers and intellectuals also provide a ray of hope to people in desperation. The Muslims had lost their grandeur after they distanced themselves from research and education.
He said Allama Iqbal gave a message of freedom and struggle to the Muslims of South Asia and the whole world and dreamt of an independent Muslim state some 17 years before the creation of Pakistan. He hoped that the four-day event would also discuss how the writers and intellectuals could play their role to eliminate intolerance, sectarianism and prejudices.
He observed, “Unfortunately we were losing mannerism with tones getting harsh. The very behaviors ultimately beget the ills of extremism and intolerance.”
The PM said amid such a situation, people needed to be given a message of hope as some other elements were dragging the society into desperation.
He said the objective of the creation of National History and Literary Heritage Division was to promote educational and literary research through an independent mechanism. He viewed that the nations distancing themselves from their history were tantamount to the trees with weak roots.
He announced that the scholarship amount for the writers and poets would also be increased. The Prime Minister also called for supporting not only the writers and intellectuals in person but also the institutions established by them. In past, various institutions set up by renowned artists that had been closed down after the death of their creators, he lamented.
He also assured Siddiqui of all of his support for promotion of literary heritage and welfare of the artists from across the country and even offered to increase the amount of endowment fund, if required.
Siddiqui, the columnist-turned-politician said the institutions like Pakistan Academy of Letters, Allama Iqbal Academy and Quaid-e-Azam Academy had performed well in the past as they had been supervised by country’s renowned intellectuals.
He said unfortunately, the process of research was suspended after the renowned figure left these institutions. He said it was pleasing that Nawaz accepted all of the proposals he had presented for promotion of literature and national history. He resolved that the National History and Literary Heritage Division would not only help revive the lost glory of the said institutions but also give them a new dimension.
He viewed that nations could only achieve progress by promoting education and literature. The adviser also highlighted his Division’s plan for establishment of a Book City on 14-kanal land in Karachi. Work on a National Museum in Islamabad on a 3.5 acre parcel of land would start soon, he added.
He said the division also planned to establish a theme park within the premises of Quaid’s Mausoleum over 35 acres of land that would cost Rs 1 billion. Earlier, Siddiqui and Pakistan Academy of Letters Chairman, Qasim Bogio presented a souvenir to the Prime Minister.
