Islamabad:Poets, writers, former colleagues and members of the Parveen Shakir Trust (PST) under leadership of Chairperson of the trust Parveen Qadir Agha observed 31st death anniversary of poet Parveen Shakir on Friday, says a press release.
She breathed her last on Dec 26, 1994 in a car accident.They gathered to offer ‘Fateha’ and pay respects to the departed poet. A contingent of the Pakistan Customs led by Assistant Collector (AC) Shazra Saeed also joined the mourners and laid wreaths on her grave in the H-8 graveyard.
Members of the PST Riffat Haider, Dr Rubina Siddique, Salman Nabi, Muhammad Siddique, Majid Qureshi Anwar Jahangiri and a large number of her fans paid tributes to Parveen Shakir on the occasion and shared their memories of the late poetess, her poetry and her personally.
Parveen Qadir Agha on the occasion briefed the media about the PST’s literary activities and ‘Aks-e-Khushbu’ Award given annually under Parveen Shakir’s name to the young writers, poets and translators.
She said the PST would continue to relive Parveen Shakir’s memory from the trust’s platform through various events such as ‘mushaira’, seminars, literary dialogue and above all the annual ‘Aks-e-Khushbu’ Award for the best works of poetry and fiction, etc. One such event is being organized next year in February, she said.
Member PST Salman Nabi said that PST was expanding its literary activities not only in Pakistan but also overseas. Last year Parveen Shakir Festival was celebrated in Canada by the PST Canada chapter. Soon the PST will also organise a literary festival in Malaysia, he said.
Shazra Saeed, AC Customs, said it was an honour to lay a wreath on Parveen Shakir’s grave who was a representative of women’s sensitivities. Her father Rana Saeed Akhtar who is also a poet recited Parveen Shakir’s poems on the occasion and called her a role model for the young generation, particularly girls.
Parveen Shakir’s fans on the occasion pledged to continue to spread her message particularly among the youth.Parveen Shakir’s poetry collections ‘Khushbu’ and others are among the best sellers even today.
