ISLAMABAD :Staff Report + Camera Sultan Bashir – The Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL), under the National Heritage & Culture Division, Government of Pakistan, organized a ceremony to launch the Urdu translation of Prison Diary, the poetic work of Ho Chi Minh, the renowned Vietnamese revolutionary leader, poet, and founder of modern Vietnam on 18 Aug 2026.
The ceremony was held at the Sheikh Ayaz Conference Hall, Pakistan Academy of Letters, Islamabad. The ceremony was attended by diplomatic representatives of various ASEAN countries, along with writers, intellectuals, and literary figures.
His Excellency Phan Anh Toan, Ambassador of Vietnam, was among the distinguished guests. Other diplomatic representatives in attendance included the Ambassador of Thailand, High Commissioner of Malaysia, High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam, Ambassador of Cuba, Chargé d’Affaires of Indonesia, and Chargé d’Affaires of Myanmar.
Chairperson of the Pakistan Academy of Letters, Prof. Dr. Najiba Arif, welcomed the distinguished guests and diplomatic representatives and said that Prison Diary is not merely an account of a revolutionary leader, but also a poetic expression of human freedom, hope, courage, and determination.
She said that the Urdu translation of the book had been undertaken under the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Pakistan Academy of Letters and Vietnam, which represents an important milestone in promoting literary and cultural cooperation between the two countries.
She also expressed her resolve to further strengthen literary ties with ASEAN countries. At the conclusion of her address, Dr. Najiba Arif led a Fatiha for the renowned writer, poet, and intellectual Haleem Qureshi, who passed away the previous day, and paid tribute to his valuable literary services.
Prof. Munir Fayyaz and former Ambassador Salahuddin Chaudhry spoke about various aspects of Prison Diary, Ho Chi Minh’s personality, poetry, and struggle, and presented selected verses from the book.
Presiding over the session, Imdad Akash described Ho Chi Minh as a symbol of courage, resistance, and freedom for oppressed nations and recited selected verses from the book.
His Excellency Phan Anh Toan, Ambassador of Vietnam, thanked Dr. Najiba Arif and the Pakistan Academy of Letters and said that Ho Chi Minh’s poetry represents Vietnamese national thought, freedom, and sovereignty.
He described the Urdu and English translations of the book as an important development in promoting literary relations between Pakistan and Vietnam. Prison Diary is regarded as one of the significant literary works of the twentieth century.
The book gives poetic expression to imprisonment, loneliness, and human suffering, while also highlighting freedom, hope, courage, and unwavering determination.
The Urdu translation has been rendered by Ms. Kausar Khanum, while Ms. Najma Saqib carried out its revision.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, His Excellency Phan Anh Toan presented commemorative gifts to the Chairperson of the Pakistan Academy of Letters, speakers, and organizers, while Dr. Najiba Arif presented the distinguished guests with gift packages comprising publications of the Pakistan Academy of Letters.
Following the ceremony, the diplomatic representatives and distinguished guests visited the book exhibition and cultural stall arranged by the Embassy of Vietnam at the Pakistan Academy of Letters. They were introduced to books highlighting Vietnam’s rich literary and cultural heritage, as well as various cultural artifacts.
The ceremony further reinforced the commitment to promoting literary and cultural cooperation, mutual understanding, and stronger ties among Pakistan, Vietnam, and the ASEAN countries.
Pakistan expert on Vietnam , Editor Pakistan in the World , Mr. Tazeen Akhtar welcomed the translation work of Vietnam literature and the first from the work of the first and top leader of this great nation is another important point to be noted.
He has seen it as an inspiration for the Pakistani people in general and for the politicians of Pakistan in particular to read and learn how the nations rise from the rags and how their leaders lead them towards success and achievements.
