There is a need to further strengthen the literary ties between Pakistan and Russia. Professor Fateh Muhammad Malik

February 6th, 2025, Islamabad Pakistan-In collaboration with the Academy of Literature of Pakistan and the Regional Repo, an organization working for regional cooperation, a special session “Urdu Language and Literature in Russia” was organized in their honor on the occasion of the arrival of Russian students of Urdu language who visited Pakistan. It was chaired by the talented writer Professor Fateh Muhammad Malik. The attaché of education and culture of the Russian Embassy in Pakistan, Ms. Elena, was specially present. Other speakers included Russian Urdu writer Lida Milaviselyeva, Dr. Natalia Melkhijina of Magim University, Head of Regional Repo Almas Haider Naqvi, writers Raja Abdul Qayyum and Arshad Waheed. The organizing duties were carried out by the Director of the Academy, Mr. Muhammad Asim Butt. The Urdu students of Russia present at the meeting introduced themselves.

Mr. Muhammad Asim Butt gave a complete briefing on the establishment of the academy, its aims and objectives, promotion of literature in Pakistani languages and welfare of writers, literary events, seminars, literary translations in mutual languages with different countries, and the current and ongoing projects of the academy. Professor Fateh Muhammad Malik said that Allama Iqbal was the only Muslim personality in the subcontinent who welcomed the communist revolution in Russia. He said that Iqbal had studied the communist revolution closely and highlighted its positive aspects.

He said that during my teaching in St. Petersburg, I got the opportunity to see the Russians closely and I felt that the hearts of the Russian people are full of spirituality. He stressed on further strengthening the literary ties between Pakistan and Russia. The Cultural Attaché of the Russian Embassy in Pakistan. Ms. Elena expressed her gratitude for the ceremony organized by the academy in honor of the Urdu students of Russia. He thanked the Academy. He stressed further improvement in the field of literature and culture between the two countries. Ms. Ludmila Vasilyeva, while speaking on the promotion of Urdu language and literature in Russia, said that literary relations between Pakistan and Russia will provide an opportunity to know each other’s literature and culture not only at the government level but also at the public level. Ms. Natalia Melkhijina spoke on the promotion and teaching of Urdu language and literature in Russia.

Regarding the impact of Russian literature on Pakistani literature, President Nishin Academy Dr. Najiba Arif said that most people in Pakistan are aware of the great novelists of Russia through Urdu translations. Addressing the Russian students of Urdu, she said that you young people will now carry out the task of translations of both languages. Mr. Almas Haider Naqvi, Mr. Raja Abdul Qayyum and Mr. Arshad Waheed discussed the importance and usefulness of literary translations between the two countries and called the translations of mutual literature of the two countries indispensable. The service of Ishtiaq Hamdani, Editor-in-Chief of Voice of Russia, to Urdu was also appreciated in the ceremony. Finally, the President of the Nishin Academy, Dr. Najiba Arif, thanked all the participants. A large number of writers participated in the ceremony.