LAHORE: After having a very successful launch in Islamabad and Peshawar, the National Council of Writers Pakistan (NCWP) Saturday formally started its activities in Lahore with core objective to unite the writers, intellectuals and individuals associated with other literary forms at a single platform as well as streamline the literary efforts regarding portrayal of real and soft image of Pakistan to the world. The NCWP launching ceremony, with MPA Fatima Fariha as chief guest, was held at Pak Tea House, a historic place of writers (Adbi Bethak) on The Mall Road. NCWP Central President, renowned poet and columnist Nayyar Sarhadi, Chief Coordinator Syed Sibtain Raza Lodhi, Lahore Coordinator Syed Muhammad Ali Jaffery, Press Secretary Rana Abdur Rehman and a large number of journalists, columnists, poets, writers, intellectuals and other literary personalities participated actively in the ceremony. On the occasion, MPA Fatima Fariha welcomed the NCWP in Lahore and said that its objectives and targets were of immense importance, which would help renaissance of Pakistan’s literature, traditions, values and taboos in true spirit; and present real and soft face of Pakistan to the world. She assured of extending her full support on priority basis to make this vital initiative of the NCWP a success story. NCWP Central President Nayyar Sarhadi elaborated that the writers council was focused on fast promotion of true knowledge; literary, historic and journalistic work that impact the overall behaviour of society and nation building, in every nook and corner of Pakistan. He hoped that Lahore, being the oldest seat of learning, would give a new impetus to the NCWP in achieving its fundamental goals of brighter Pakistan in comity of nations. Sarhadi said, “Time has ripen that journalists, writers, intellectuals, artists, poets, and other literary personalities must wage a effective crusade through their writings against the twin monsters of terrorism and extremism; corruption and other social evils, which have since long been eating the vitals of the state.” He said the council was not oblivious of the writers’ rights, and that was why, it was making every endeavour to ensure and secure their rights at all levels. He mentioned that on the NCWP efforts, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister acknowledged the writers’ rights and established a millions of rupees fund under which Rs 30,000 per month stipend was being given to elderly, ailing and economically underprivileged writers of any field of literature/journalism. Earlier, Chief Coordinator Lodhi and Lahore Coordinator Jaffery highlighted the very basics and objectives of the formation of National Council of Writers Pakistan. They said that NCWP would also be launched in Multan, Karachi and other cities of the country. At the end, MPA Fatima Fariha presented the first and posthumous book written by her mother, Kaneez Ishaaq, to the selected participants. Nayyar Sarhadi also gave away his book comprising a collection of his newspaper columns to the guests.