Book Launch
“Dream and Reality” by Syeda Henna Babar Ali, President PENPC, was launched on November 16, 2002. The book launching ceremony was attended by a number of writers, educationists, and eminent personalities from different walks of life.“Dream and Reality” is the third book of poetry in English by Syeda Henna Babar Ali. Her first book of poetry, “Wet Sun”, was published in 1983 while the second, “Midnight Dialogue”, came out in 1990. PENPC arranged this function which was funded by Syeda Henna Babar Ali.
Poetry writing competitions in schools
For encouraging young literary talent, PENPC has organized intra-school poetry writing competitions among students of classes 8th to 10th in eleven high schools in Lahore since June 2003 (in 7 government schools in 2003, and in one government and three private schools in 2004). Prize winners received poetry books, and cash prizes of Rs. 500, Rs. 300 and Rs. 200 for First, Second, and Third positions, respectively (1US$= Rs.60 approx.). All competing students received “Certificates of Participation”.
Based on the experience in Lahore in 2003 and 2004, PENPC decided to organize intra-school poetry writing competitions among students of Classes 9th & 10th in government schools outside Lahore. Staff of Training and Resource Centres (TARCs) of Ali Institute of Education, Lahore helped PENPC in organizing these competitions in one government school each in Bhalwal and Mustafabad in May 2005 and in Khanewal in June 2005.
Poetry writing completions in colleges
An intra-college poetry writing competition among students of Govt. College, Township, Lahore was held in February 2005. Prize winners received poetry books and cash prizes of Rs. 1,000, Rs. 750 and Rs. 500 for First, Second, and Third positions, respectively. All competing students received “Certificates of Participation”.
Poetry recitation competitions among participants of weekly children programme of Radio Pakistan Lahore
PENPC supported the holding of poetry recitation competitions among participants of children’s weekly programme“Honhar” of Radio Pakistan Lahore from September 2004 to May 2005. Upto 12 years old boys and girls participated in these competitions held on the last Sunday of every month. Prize winners received poetry books, and cash prizes of Rs. 500, Rs. 300 and Rs. 200 for First, Second and Third positions, respectively with “Certificates of Participation”.
PENPC Best “First Book” Awards in poetry and prose for books published during 2003
To nurture literary talent in Pakistan, PENPC, in 2004, invited nominations for two PENPC Awards of Rs. 20,000 each for the best “First Book” in literary prose or poetry published during 2003 (first edition) in Urdu, English or any regional language of Pakistan. The book had to be an original work of fiction, not a translation or compilation and the “First Book” of a Pakistani author in poetry or prose published during 2003. Separate panels of judges for poetry and prose, appointed by the PENPC Executive Committee, evaluate the entries received for these Awards on the basis of their literary and stylistic excellence. For the originality and freshness of his first effort, PENPC best “First Book” Award in poetry was awarded to Mr. Shanawar Ishaq for his Urdu poetry book “Iltabas”, first published in 2003 by Ilmo Irfan Publishers, Lahore. Ms. Kiran Azam was awarded PENPC best “First Book” Award in prose for her book “Dreams Can Come True” published by Ferozsons (Pvt.) Ltd., Karachi in 2003. This is an absorbing story of a teenager contracting a serious illness and then miraculously finding a cure for it herself, becoming famous and leading a happy life. PENPC Best “First Book” Awards presentation ceremony was held at Lahore on May 20, 2005.
PENPC Newsletter
PENPC Newsletter, highlighting the programmes and activities of the PENPC, was published in March 2004.
