13th edition of ‘Aalmi Urdu Conference’ concluded on a high note with a simple and impressive closing ceremony held here at the Arts Council of Pakistan (ACP) Karachi on Sunday 06th December 2020. Closing ceremony was moderated by Dr. Huma Mir with panelist including host Muhammad Ahmed Shah, Munnawer Saeed, Noor-ul-Huda Shah, Sohail Ahmed, Abaseen Yousuf Zai, Dr. Fatima Hassan, Dr. Qasim Bughio, Moin Mirza and Anwer Maqsood.
As stated earlier, this 13th edition of Aalmi Urdu Conference was attended by very limited number of writers, scholars, intellectuals & academics but thanks to social media this 13th Aalmi Urdu Conference was attended online in large numbers.
Dr. Huma Mir who was moderating the final session of 13th Aalmi Urdu Conference spoke highly of President ACP Karachi, Muhammad Ahmed Shah. She said; “only Ahmed Shah could pull-off an event of such magnitude in this pandemic time”.
Well known Pakistani dramatist, playwright and scriptwriter Hasina Moin said; “with this conference, I am delighted to see that my country is awake and alive. I pray that it remains like this forever to come. She further said; I do remember the time when only few hundred people use to attend conferences like this one, then it rose to thousands and today more than hundred thousand attended this 13th Aalmi Urdu Conference online. Ahmed Shah has done a commendable job by presenting this Urdu conference which is for the youth and now it’s time for youths to come forward to take this Urdu conference forward”.
Veteran television artist Munnawer Saeed said; “I was a part of every meeting held for this 13th Aalmi Urdu Conference. Many advised Ahmed Shah to postpone this event due to ongoing pandemic, but President ACP Karachi Ahmed Shah was against postponing this event and he said that we will organize Aalmi Urdu Conference with adopting all precautions and safety measures required by authorities in their standard operating procedures (SOP)’s”.
Noor-ul-Huda Shah another famous and well known Pakistani dramatist, short-story writer, poet and columnist said; “this Aalmi Urdu Conference feels like a vaccine as it has brought many together and brought smiles on many faces”. She further said; “a lot that has been concealed or has been ignored from Pakistan’s National Language was evident in this Aalmi Urdu Conference. Best part of this Aalmi Urdu Conference was that it had many who speak other local language as their native language”.
Sohail Ahmed best known as Azizi, comedian, stage actor and television actor said; “I consider myself as a very loving person and I try not to become hopeless in any situation. Whenever I think about our culture I get to see as nothing is happening but there are some positive points too. Previously any thought of Karachi use to remind me of Sea, but now whenever Karachi comes to mind, Ahmed Shah comes in my mind too. Ahmed Shah’s effort i.e. Aalmi Urdu Conference is like a vaccine for our culture, which keeps it healthy and going”.
Abaseen Yousuf Zai a very famous Pashtun poet and also the President of the Pashto Academy of the University of Peshawar said; “this 13th Aalmi Urdu Conference has increased the prestige of literary and books. Ahmed Shah should be given the title of Aman Shah for this peace loving initiatives”.
Dr. Fatima Hassan one of the best female poet of Urdu language in Pakistan said; “this conference has served the role of guardian for our culture and for our traditions. Our culture, defines our values and our values are now attach with to ACP Karachi”.
Moin Mirza said; “pandemic days are really for everyone, even loved ones are ignored in the times of pandemic, but ACP Karachi spreading message of love and peace even in these horrid times of pandemic”.
President ACP Karachi, Muhammad Ahmed Shah spoke about the reasons why he insisted on this conference, and he said; “I had only two reasons to organize this Aalmi Urdu Conference. Firstly was to keep our language and culture alive and kicking, which can be done with adopting all precautionary and safety measures. Secondly all sorts of projects can be carried out in any sort of emergency situation, but with its proper precautionary and safety measure”.
President ACP Karachi, added; “organizing an event of this magnitude was a team effort and I would give due credit to each and every team member involved and I congratulate all members of my team for organizing this event is a very smoothest possible manner”.
Ahmed Shah thanked everyone by saying; “I would like to thank and congratulate all the delegates, guests and participants of this 13th Aalmi Urdu Conference for making a success”.
On his concluding note President ACP Karachi Muhammad Ahmed Shah said; “if pandemic comes under control, ACP will organize National Cultural Conference on occasion of Pakistan Day and next i.e. 14th Aalmi Urdu Conference will be held from 02nd till 05th December 2021”.
After the end of closing ceremony, came one of the most sought-after script-writer, television host, satirist, humorist and a figure of legendary status Anwer Maqsood, who with sharp double meaning skits criticized people in power. He made sure that everyone present in the auditorium laughed out as loud as they could.
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