Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Division Aurangzeb Khan Khichi met with a representative group of poets, writers, and intellectuals from Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Tuesday.
The discussion occurred within the committee room of the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) in Islamabad. Khichi characterized poets and writers as vital civilisational, cultural, and intellectual resources for the public.
He described the Pakistan Academy of Letters as a shared home for creative figures from across the nation rather than just a state entity, noting that its vitality stems from the intellectual services of its members. The visiting delegation comprised notable figures including Ali Akbar Abbas, Ayesha Masood, Zaheer Gilani, Khurram Khaliq, Kashif Irfan, Rafiuddin Siddiqui, Professor Nargis Iftikhar, Mubashir Saleem, Nusrat Yab Khan Nusrat, Afshan Abbasi, Dr Farhat Abbas and Dr Muhammad Saleem Mazhar.
Staff members from the Pakistan Academy of Letters, including Mir Nawaz Solangi, Akhtar Raza Saleemi and Ali Irfan, were also present at the session. The literary representatives suggested several improvements, such as promoting regional language works, facilitating the publication of books, and creating better welfare facilities for writers.
Participants also advocated for the creation of a literary café and the upgrading of the Writers’ House to provide a dedicated environment for creative interaction. Khichi promised that the government would review the practical suggestions offered during the consultation. He stated that shaping future policies and enhancing the academy's performance would place a high priority on consulting the literary community.
