A Poetry Evening Dedicated to the Northern Areas

A poetry evening, attended by poets from the Northern Areas and the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, was held at the National Art Gallery on Tuesday.

The event was organized by the Pakistan Tourism Department Corporation (PTDC) in collaboration with the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) in connection with the International Tourism Day. Noted poet Ahmed Faraz was the chief guest on the occasion. It was a unique opportunity for Khushi Mohammad, Prof Hashmat Kamal Elami, Jamshed Khan Dukhi, Zafar Waqar Taj, Mir Aslam Hussain Sahar and Zeeshan Mehdi from Gilgit and Skardu to recite their verses.

Sahar and Dukhi through their verses highlighted the natural grandeur of the Northern Areas and the lack of awareness among the countrymen of the heaven-like beauty this part of the world possessed.

From the mighty Himalayas to the snow-covered peaks of K2 and from the beauty and culture of its people to the ever-singing streams and birds of the area, the world and even the countrymen had indeed cared very little to know about "this Switzerland of ours…