Murad urges writers to purge society from intolerance, extremism thru literature

KARACHI, Dec 9,2021- Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that intolerance, extremism, and self-righteousness are eating into the vitals of our society, therefore our writers and poets have to purge the society through their write up.

This he said while speaking at 14th International Urdu Conference at Karachi Arts Council.

14th International Urdu Conference opened today and will continue till December 12,

Mr Shah said that the incident of Sialkot and Faisalabad have exposed the mindset of our society which has been infested with intolerance, extremism, and self-righteousness. “We have forgotten our values, respect for women and our guests,” he lamented.

Murad Ali Shah said that we, the politicians, and the journalists, have created a new trend of insulting each other, fighting with each other, accusing each other in the prime time shows of our news channels. “These kinds of programs are also contributing in promoting intolerance and self-righteousness,” he said and added that our electronic media would have to start literary programmes so that people may have the choice to switch over to political or literary programmes.

Conditions not conducive for creativity and culture: Speakers of International Urdu conference

Mr Shah said that there was a dire need to restructure our society so that such incidents which not only damage the image of our country, but our humanity and the religion, therefore we have to control them as a social control.

The CM recalled that in the past our people used to read books and visit libraries to seek knowledge but now the habit of reading has totally vanished away, and it has been replaced with interaction on social media.

“The books I have read in my life are still in my memory but the material I read on social media do not last longer in the memory,” he said and added but we have to move forward to digital age in which we would have to digitize our best literature so that people could take benefit out of them.

Murad Ali Shah invited the arts council and its members to support him to establish and modernize libraries all over Sindh.

He said that it is the time our writers and poets must wage war along with him against extremism, otherwise our future generations would not pardon us.

Mr Shah lauded the efforts of President Arts Council Ahmed Shah and his team for promoting cultural activities in this city which has seen bloodshed, looting and plundering.

At the conclusion of the session, the chief minister was presented with a memento, bouquet of flowers and ajrak.

The programme was attended by provincial minister Syed sardar Shah, Administrator KMC, leading writers, poets and critics.