Viewers on their way to Mehfil -e - Mushaira

A joint Mehfil-e-Mushaira of the Indo-Pak Sub-Continent was held in connection with the celebrations of the 4th Made in Gujranwala Industrial Exhibition at the Chamber Hall on March 18, 2004. It was indeed a memorable and exclusive event in which the renowned poets from both India and Pakistan actively took part to amuse and entertain a promiscuous gathering of audience with their inspiring verses. Eminent scholarly poetic and literary figure Munno Bhai of Pakistan presided at the Mehfil-e-Mushaira. Among the distinguished poets who related their thought provoking, inspiring, entertaining and spirited verses to the listeners were Ata-ul-Haq Qasmi, Anwar Masood, Khalid Masood, Inam-ul-Haq Javed, Afzal Sahir and Sarfaraz Shahid. Renowned Indian Poets Kana Singh Pothoharon particularly attended Mehfil-e-Mushaira as a guest of honor.

The great humorist Anwar Masood presenting his humorous verses

It is presumed that the holding of Mehfil-e-Mushaira is yet another step forward towards the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two traditional rivals India and Pakistan. It is indeed a matter of immense pleasure that poets from India have shown their keen interest in the Mehfil-e-Mushaira organized by the GCCI officials at the 4th Made in Gujranwala Industrial Exhibition. It has certainly provided them with a rare opportunity to come to Paksitan without feelings of ill-will, enmity, rancor or vindictiveness. They not only exchanged views on topics of human interest with the famous Pakistani poets but also brought good wishes for the people of Pakistan in general.

At the Mehfil-e-Mushaira famous Pakistani poetic figures like legends in poetry Anwar Masood, Khalid Masood, Ata-ul-Haq Qasmi, Ijaz Kanwar Raja, Sarfraz Shahid Aslam, Saleem Abid, Inam-ul-haq Javed, Abbas Najmi, Niaz Hussain Lakhwara, Abbas Tabish, Shaista Nuzat , Afzal Sahir, Saeed Iqbal Sardi, and a lot more presented their original ideas in a poetic form to amuse, entertain, and instruct a mixed gathering of ardent admirers. Anwar Masood, a humorous Pakistani poet put up a spectacular performance and won a good round of applause from the audience.