LAHORE (APP): Waris Shah Memorial Committee working for dissemination of the Punjabi classic poetry of Pir Syed Waris Shah of Jandiala Sher Khan, district Sheikhupura, has approved schedule of its activities for the whole year.
The committee met here at Civil Secretariat, Lahore, with its chairman, Shamail Ahmad Khawaja, the additional chief secretary, Punjab, in the chair. Committee Vice Chairman Raja Jehangir Anwar, Executive Director Punjab Council of the Arts Chaudhry Muhammad Asif Pervaiz, Director General Punjab Institute of Language, Arts & Culture Syed Tahir Raza Bukhari, DCO Sheikhupura Arqam Tariq and non-official members of the committee including former federal secretaries Shahid Rafi and Oriya Maqbool Jan also participated in the meeting.
The meeting decided to republish the book officially published in 1985 titled "Heer Waris Shah", compiled by Muhammad Sharif Sabir, as the copies of the said book having a gigantic cultural importance are not available in the market. This piece of classic literature had a novel significance because the poet, Syed Waris Shah, is acknowledged all-over the world as "Shakespeare" of Punjabi literature.
The meeting also decided to launch CDs of Heer-Khwaans and the soft form of Heer Waris Shah will also be uploaded on facebook for general public utilisation.
The meeting decided to approach the vice chancellor, University of the Punjab, to establish "Waris Shah Chair" at the Department of Punjabi Language at Oriental College Lahore. It would help review the research theses, produced so far by the PhD scholars on Heer Waris Shah and its impact on the Punjabi society, to produce it in the consolidated form.
The meeting also decided to construct "Bab-e-Waris Shah" at Sheikhupura-Jandiala Sher Khan Road, Sheikhupura, with the help of local philanthropists.
Approval for the schedule from September this year to August next year to commemorate the memories of Pir Syed Waris Shah was presented by the ED, PUCAR during the meeting which include celebrations of 218th Urs of Pir Syed Waris Shah at Jandiala Sher Khan. The committee reviewed the arrangements for the whole schedule from every aspect as well.