ATK Peshawar Chapter Holds Oath-Taking, Book Launch Ceremony -

PESHAWAR: The Anjuman Taraqi Khowar (ATK) Peshawar Chapter organised an oath-taking and book launch ceremony at Imam Khomeini Hall, Khana-i-Farhang, attended by political, social and literary figures, lawyers and journalists from across Chitral.
The event comprised three segments. A collective prayer was offered for the late literary figure Iqbaluddin Sehar, followed by the oath-taking of the newly elected ATK Peshawar Chapter cabinet. The third segment featured the launch of Evergreen Folk Songs of Chitral with Urdu and English Translation, authored by researcher, poet and radio host Inayat Jalil Ambar.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Deputy Speaker Suraiya Bibi was the chief guest, while senior lawyer Abdul Wali Khan Abid presided over the ceremony.
Deputy Speaker Suraiya Bibi administered the oath to the new cabinet. ATK President Mehrban Elahi Hanfi outlined the organisation’s activities, future plans and challenges facing indigenous languages, and called for the establishment of an ATK office in Peshawar.
During the book launch, the author briefed participants on his work. Research papers were presented by senior journalist Sharif Shakeeb and Prof Dr Badshah Munir Bukhari in Urdu, while Shamsuddin presented an English paper and performed Khowar songs on the sitar. Linguist Akhunzada Fakhruddin highlighted the book’s linguistic significance.
Former Kohat DC Abdul Akram, Dr Faqeera Khan Fiqri and MPA Arifa Bibi stressed the importance of mother tongues and the promotion of Khowar literature. MPA Arifa Bibi also referred to a resolution tabled in the provincial assembly for the inclusion of Khowar among national languages.
Addressing the gathering, Deputy Speaker Suraiya Bibi said the provincial government was prioritising Chitral’s development and announced the chief minister’s upcoming visit to inaugurate development projects. She also announced the establishment of a press club in Upper Chitral and an FM radio station in Boni.
She announced a grant of Rs500,000 for the ATK Peshawar Chapter, while Abdul Wali Khan Abid pledged Rs100,000.
the event concluded a Chitrali musical band performed selected Khowar songs from the book.