Shaista Nuzhat

Shaista Nuzhat ( (Shahmukhi)) (born 1963) is a Punjabi poet, writer, linguist, and researcher on Punjabi language and literature. She is founder director of the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture (PILAC) in Lahore.

Biography Early life and education Shaista belongs to Gujranwala District, Punjab, Pakistan. She gained a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of the Punjab, Lahore. She is popularly known as a poet in Punjabi and Urdu, a columnist, and a writer, and has been prominent in public speaking.

Career Shaista started her career as a lecturer in philosophy and later as a journalist. She has worked as a sub-editor in various national daily newspapers. She holds the portfolio of a public sector official and bureaucrat, working with the Government of Pakistan. She is alumni of National Institute of Management (NIM), Lahore and attended 12th Senior Management Course (SMC).

PILAC Shaista has worked to promote Punjabi language, literature, art and culture. As a result of her efforts, the Punjab Legislative Assembly passed a bill for the establishment of an institution named the Punjab Institute of Language, Art & Culture, which started functioning, initially, in 2005, in a rented building at Shadman Colony, Lahore, as part of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Youth Affairs, with Shaista as the founding director. The Institute brought together Punjabi writers, poets, and journalists in the PILAC (commonly known as Punjabi Complex), at 01-Qaddafi Stadium, Ferozpur Road, Lahore, with the support of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, the Ex. Chief Minister, Punjab. PILAC has been functioning from this complex since 2007, after an inauguration by Elahi. Shaista also started Pakistan's first Punjabi FM-radio channel named FM-Pechanway (FM-95) Punjab Rang, under the umbrella of PILAC, broadcasting from the Punjabi Complex.

Foreign tours Shaista has visited Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Thailand, India, UK, France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong-China, South Korea, and Sri Lanka, to deliver lectures and research papers in connection with promoting the Punjabi language.

Publications Sr. No. Title Detail Year 1 TUM Urdu Poetry 2017 2 My Debut in Journalism A compilation of published articles and columns, by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in different international magazines and newspapers on his period as a student 2012 3 Manto Se Milyay Stage Play 2011 4 Ik Seeti Maar Mitra A transliteration of short stories by Amarta Pritam 2008 5 Aqal te Ishq A transliteration of Sufi poetry of Khushhal Khan Khattak 2008 6 Chaway Fareed Sindhi translation of Kalam Baba Fareed-ud-Din Ganj Shakar with English, Urdu, and Gurumukhi script 2008 7 Our Legendary Intellectuals Supervision of preparation and publishing of translation of poetry of seven Sufi Poets of Punjab 2008 8 Darshan Patno Paar A book of Punjabi poetry 2007 9 Roedaad Compilation of proceedings of Inter-Provincial Cultural Conference 2005 2006 10 Mirza Sahiban A revised poetic version of fol lore of Punjab 2006 11 Imranyat-e-Waris Shah A book in Urdu and Gurumukhi on Sociological Philosophy of Waris Shah. Also been translated by Indian Universities in Gurumukhi 2006 12 Research Papers on Guru Grahnth Sahib Research papers 2005 13 Bil Aakhir A book of Urdu and Punjabi poetry 1993

Awards and honors Title Awarded By Year Ref Interfaith Harmony Award Principal Officer of American Consulate, Lahore 2008 Award of Excellence in Culture Government of Punjab 2007 Guru Nanak Heritage of Interfaith Understanding Award United States 2006 Ambassador of Peace Award Seoul, South Korea 2006 208th Waris Shah Award Waris Shah Academy, Jandiala Sher Khan 2006 Delhi Tax Bar Association Award Delhi 2006 Sahir Ludhianvi Award 2006 Khawaja Fareed Sangat Award Lahore 2005 Adeeb International Award India 2005 Award of Excellence Department of Philosophy, University of Punjab 2003 Poetess of the Year Award Lahore Gymkhana 2002 Waris Shah Award Ministry of Information, Culture and Youth Affairs Department, Govt. of Punjab 2002