Pashtun Culture Day: Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party Holds Events, Photo Exhibition, Seminar and Poetry Recital at Quetta Press Club

Quetta (Daily Qudrat) – On the occasion of ‘Pashtun Culture Day’ on September 23, the Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party organized various dignified programs at the Quetta Press Club, including a photo exhibition, an academic seminar, the launching ceremony of the Milli Shaheed Award, and a poetry recital. These events were attended in large numbers by party leaders, intellectuals, artists, writers, poets, students, lawyers, doctors, engineers, traders, and people from various walks of life.

In the morning, a splendid photo exhibition was organized in the Quetta Press Club hall, which was formally inaugurated by Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party’s central Senior Secretary Syed Abdul Qadir Agha Advocate, Central Secretary Information Muhammad Isa Roshan, Provincial President Nasrullah Khan Zirey, Sindh Provincial President Siddique Agha, and other party leaders. After the inauguration, the leaders inspected the paintings and photographs displayed in the exhibition and highly appreciated the creative work of the artists, while appreciation certificates were also distributed among various artists.

On this occasion, party leaders described the organization of the painting and photo exhibition by Olus Arts Council as commendable and said that fine arts reflect the history, civilization, culture, traditions, and collective life of any nation. They particularly appreciated the strong participation of women in the exhibition and the paintings prepared by them, and thanked the women artists as well as the organizers.

At 3 PM, a dignified academic seminar was held regarding Pashtun Culture Day, presided over by the party’s Provincial President Nasrullah Khan Zirey. The seminar was addressed by Syed Abdul Qadir Agha Advocate, Muhammad Isa Roshan, Provincial Secretary Khushal Kasi, Sindh Provincial President Syed Siddique Agha, Rafiullah Pashtun, and other speakers, while the duties of stage secretary were performed by Nida Sangar.

The speakers shed detailed light on the historical importance of Pashtun culture, national identity, language, literature, arts, traditions, and values. They made clear that culture is the fundamental mirror of any nation’s national identity and collective life, and the purpose of observing this day is to highlight one’s history, civilization, and cultural heritage and to acquaint the new generation with their national identity.

During the ceremony, Balochistan International Think Tank and International Society of Art Friendship Pakistan also launched an award named after ‘Milli Shaheed Usman Khan Kakar.’ The organization’s head, Owais Jadoon, symbolically distributed the awards. On this occasion, party leaders were presented with gold medals named after Milli Shaheed Usman Khan Kakar, and his national and political services were paid rich tributes.

In the last part of the program, a vibrant poetry recital was organized on the occasion of Pashtun Culture Day, which was moderated by Noor Agha Durrani. Various poets presented their poetry, highlighting various aspects of Pashtun culture, national identity, language, literature, and traditions in a beautiful manner.

In their addresses, party leaders shed light on the historical background of this day and said that during the Pashto International Literary and Academic Conference held in Quetta in 2015, on the suggestion of Milli Shaheed Usman Khan Kakar, Nasrullah Khan Zirey had proposed observing September 23 as Pashtun Culture Day, which the conference unanimously approved. Since then, for the past 11 years, this day has been observed across the country and around the world.

The leaders welcomed the Sindh government’s decision to officially observe Pashtun Culture Day and strongly demanded that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government also announce official observance of Pashtun Culture Day on September 23. They said that the history of the Pashtun nation is replete with peace, tolerance, bravery, hospitality, and love of knowledge, which needs to be transmitted to the new generation as an important necessity of the time.

The speakers made clear that this year, in view of the worrying situation and tragic incidents in various areas of southern Pashtunkhwa including Ziarat, Hana Urak, Mezai Adda, Saranan, Ziarat Cross, and Harnai Shahrag, as well as areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (especially Swat), Pashtun Culture Day was observed with extreme simplicity and dignity. Keeping in view solidarity with the affected families and respect for the sentiments of the people, the events were kept simple but purposeful.

The Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party reiterated its commitment that it will continue its struggle for the protection and promotion of the Pashtun nation’s language, culture, history, literature, and national identity, and through such cultural activities will continue to further strengthen national consciousness, unity, courage, political awakening, and collective attachment.