MFUA chairman Mohamed Atiq, pointed out that the award winners' names were announced in February this year by juries headed by Prof Dr Gopi Chand Narang, and Prof Dr Khurshid Rizvi, renowned poets and scholars from India and Pakistan, respectively.
"Prof Dr Narang, who headed our Indian jury since 1996, passed away on June 15 in the US, and his demise is a huge loss for Urdu language and Urdu lovers across the world and our Majlis," he said.
The programme started with a Holy Qur'an recitation by Hafiz Khalid Obaid, after which the compere Dr Ambarin Haseeb Amber welcomed the participants. Pakistan and Indian juries chairmen Prof Dr Khurshid Rizvi and Prof Dr Shafey Kidwai, respectively, award winners, MFUA secretary-general Obaid Tahir and president Qamar uz Zaman Bhatti were present.
Atiq launched the annual magazine for 2022. Prof Dr Kidwai spoke about the Indian winner and the Pakistani winner.
Atiq launched the trophies for both award winners, which, he said, like past two years, will be sent by courier, to the award winners' homes. Each winner will also get a cash award of Rs 150,000.
Prof Dr Rizvi spoke about the Pakistani winner. Both the winners also addressed the event and recited selected verses from their works. In his presidential address, Atiq described the Majlis' journey and thanked the guests and award winners for participating in the programme
