II ULUSLARARASI ÇOCUK VE GENÇLİK EDEBİYATI SEMPOZYUMU

In 1962, Markazi Urdu Board was established by the government of Pakistan. It was later named
as Urdu Science Board. It published hundreds of books. It also published a four color Bachoon
ka Urdu Science Encyclopedia (Urdu Encyclopedia for Children) in ten volumes. Another
well-known institution established by the government of Pakistan is National Book Foundation.
It was established in 1972. National Book Foundation encourages children writers and hold
different competition for the promotion of children literature. Every year National Book Foundation
announces awards for best writers of children literature. In 1976, Academy of Letters of
Pakistan established with an aim to promote the national language of Pakistan and other regional
languages of Pakistan (later called Pakistani languages).
Other than the government organizations, there are many private institutions and organizations
which are involved in the propagation and broadcast of children literature in Pakistan. Hamdard
Foundation, Ferozsons, Pakistan Children’s Academy, Oxford University Press, Voice of Children,
Islamic Society of Children Hobbies and many others are some of the examples of those
institutions which are involved in the development of children literature. Shaheed Hakeem Muhammad
Saeed had been the beacon light for the youth and children of Pakistan. He established
Hamdard Foundation Pakistan in the very early years of the formation of Pakistan. Hamdard
Foundation contributed tremendously for the progress and prosperity of the society. A large
number of books and literature published by Hamdard Foundation for youth and children. One
of the main contribution of Hamdard Foundation is the publication of Monthly Nunehal Karachi
which is being published since 1953. It is being published for last sixty two years regularly under
the editorship of Masood Ahmad Barkati. The fourth generation of Pakistan is the reader of
Nunehal.
Children Literature Department, Da’wah Academy
Da‘wah Academy was established in March, 1985, in order to launch educational, training and
research programs for Da’wah purposes addressing the needs of Muslim communities within
and outside Pakistan. Inviting people to accept the supremacy of the Almighty Creator and to
follow the right path of submission to none but the Creator in all affairs is an obligation upon all
believers. Individuals, society as well as the Islamic state are under obligation to put the Book
of Allah and the Sunnah of the last Prophet (peace be on him) into practice and convey the message
of Islam to the humanity: “Those who, if we establish them (in position of authority) in the
land, establish the system of Salah and payment of Zakah, enjoin the good and forbid the undesirable
and with Allah rests the end (and decision) of (all) affairs” (Qur’an 22: 41).
The Academy has been actively engaged in devising and organizing orientation and training
programs to achieve the said objective. Da’wah as a discipline and a specialization necessitates
intensive study of Islam as well as the various world religions and ideologies. The study of various
disciplines such as mass-communication, history, languages, sociology and psychology also
becomes necessary to properly fulfill the responsibility of dissemination of the message of Islam.
It further requires the practical training of the people engaged in Da‘wah Activities. The
basic aim of the extensive educational and training programs of the Da‘wah Academy is to develop
professionalism, promote Islamic commitment and instruct the trainees on how to communicate
Islamic teaching in the best possible way.
In 1987, Children Literature Department was established at Da‘wah Academy, International
Islamic University Islamabad, Pakistan. The main objectives of Children Literature Department
are: to prepare interesting and useful children literature according to the psychological needs of
the children and youth of different ages; to conduct and organize orientation training programs
for youth, students, children writers and editors of children magazines; and to conduct research
on children literature. It is quite interesting that it is the unique nature of the ‘Children Literature
Department’ which at the same time involved in multidimensional activities. For the last 27
years, the department is involved in the development of children and youth. The department
publishes books, anthologies, organizes training workshops and seminars at national level to
train young writers and editors of children magazines. The department yet has 100 publications
II. Uluslararası Çocuk ve Gençlik Edebiyatı Sempozyumu 175