Rich tributes paid to Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi

Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) on Sunday organized special event to celebrate 100th birthday of (Late) Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, veteran literary scholar, poet and story writer. Renowned writers, intellectuals and poets including Professor Fateh Muhammad Malik, Director General PNCA Syed Jamal Shah, Sajida Jaffar and Chairman Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) Professor Dr Muhammad Qasim Bughio spoke at the ceremony held at PNCA.
Professor Fateh Muhammad Malik paid tributes to the creative and scholarly abilities of Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi. He also shed light on various aspects of the personality and works of late Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi.
Professor Dr Muhammad Qasim Bughio said the personality of Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi cannot be covered in just a single sitting or a book and added much would be written on him.
Earlier, Director General PNCA Syed Jamal Shah welcomed the participants and said that the Council would organise more such event to honour prominent scholars and literary figures of the country.
Others speakers also paid rich tributes to Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi in a ceremony held at PNCA auditorium. Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, being a famous poet, journalist, novelist, critic and playwright was an important factor in the promotion of progressive movement.
After graduating from Punjab University, Lahore in 1935, Qasmi turned to writing. Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi wrote more than four dozen books on different topics and different categories. He edited Naqoosh, Amroz, Phool, Tehzib-e-Niswan, Adab-e-Latif, Sawera and Fanoon for many years.
He became first the general secretary of progressive writers'
Movement and later served the organisation as its president. He started to publish his monthly magazine named "Fanoon" that remained a shining star in literary world for half a century.
In the age of ninety, Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi died on July 10, 2006 in Lahore.
The Government of Pakistan awarded him a presidential pride of performance award in 1968 and Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 1980.