Noted Pakistani literary figure Amjad Islam Amjad receives Turkey’s prestigious Necip Fazil Award

ISTANBUL, 22 December 2019: Noted Pakistani writer and poet Amjad Islam Amjad received the prestigious “Nacip Fazil International Culture & Art Award” during an impressive ceremony held in Istanbul on Saturday evening. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Vice President Fuat Oktay, Culture & Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Treasury & Finance Minister Berat Albayrak, Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül, Minister for Family & Social Welfare Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk, Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, Presidential Spokesman İbrahim Kalın, Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya, Star newspaper Editor-in-Chief Nuh Albayrak as well as leading literary figures and media personalities attended the ceremony. Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey Mr. Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi was also present.  

 

The Necip Fazil International Culture & Art Award is organized by Turkey’s leading newspaper “Star” under the auspicious of Turkish Ministry of Culture & Tourism annually. Pakistan’s distinguished literary figure Amjad Islam Amjad was selected by the Award jury for his contribution in creating remarkable impression in the literary and artistic world. The Awards are organized to honor the cultural and literary heritage of the idealist, poet and thinker Necip Fazıl. He is one of the great poets of Turkey whose poetry, fiction and political writings had a profound impact on the new generations of Turkey. 

President Erdoğan congratulated recipients of the Awards including poet İbrahim Tenekeci, writer Cemal Şakar, poet Meryem Kılıç, short-story writer Emin Gürdamur, Pakistani poet Amjad Islam Amjad who received 2019 Necip Fazıl International Culture and Arts Award, as well as Prof. Dr. Mehmet Akif Aydın, and Coşkun Yılmaz for knowledge research and Prof. Uğur Derman for Necip Fazıl Award of Respect. Mr. Amjad Islam Amjad was the only foreign recipient of Necip Fazil Award in 2019.

Congratulating Amjad Islam Amjad for receiving the Award, President Erdoğan said Amjad Islam Amjad  is one of the important poets of modern Urdu literature and a prominent figure from Pakistan who apart from literature, has career in journalism and script writing. President Erdoğan said Pakistan is always a brotherly country and a cherished friend for Turkey. He noted that while relationships are based on mutual benefits, Turkey-Pakistan friendship is exemplary for the entire world as it is based on sincerity and solidarity.  President Erdoğan said that the heart-to-heart Turkey-Pakistan brotherly ties would be further strengthened in the days to come.

Mr. Amjad Islam Amjad received his award from Treasury & Finance Minister Berat Albayrak. In his acceptance speech Mr. Amjad thanked the jury for considering his works for this prestigious award. He said Turkey is close to every Pakistani’s heart. He said receiving this award in presence of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a great honour. “I consider Erdogan as greatest leader of the Muslim world in present times,” said Mr. Amjad. He hoped to see a translation centre of Muslims and Third World countries for better understanding of our common and mutual problems.

Separately, felicitating Amjad Islam Amjad, Ambassador Syrus Qazi stated that the Nacip Fazil Award was an acknowledgement of Amjad Islam’s outstanding contributions in the literary field. Ambassador highlighted the depth of love, affection and respect among the Turkish people and leadership for Pakistan and its people.