SAHIWAL: The Mahkain Punjabi Adbi Board held the fifth annual Punjabi books awards ceremony at a private college here on Friday.

Around 16 Punjabi books of different categories were given awards for 2013.

The three-member judges panel gave awards to following books among different categories.

Among poetry books Ayub Kamoka`s book Sufnian Ass Banairay, Ali Babar`s Chup Tou Baad, Zafar Iqbal`s Waikhan Wali Alch, Rafiq Rajee`s Adhee Raat Siyal De, Muhammad Waseem Qureshi`s Darad Hangooray, Imran Nagvi`s Pani Day Parchawain and Bushera Naz`s Kandh Asman Teekar were given awards in Punjabi ghazal and Nazm category.

Babo Javed`s book Dadhiyan Sattaan and Shah Nawaz Ali Nasir`s Akh Da Sach were selected for awards among prose category.

Shah Nawaz Nasir`s books Punjabi NasarDee Kahani was awarded the best research boolc Prof Akram Saeed`s Tawaan Tawaan Tara was awarded the best Punjabi critique book.

Besides, the board gave special award to Shakeel Ahmed`s book Chanan Labdiyain Ratain. The award for Punjabi language promotion and activism was given to Allah Yar Saqib and Masood Halmi.

Mushtaq Adil Kathia, chairman Mahkain Punjab Adbi Board, told Dawn the organisation had received more than 50 books for awards having different categories, including poetry, prose and criticism. He said the writers whose books were given awards came from different parts of Punjab, including Faisalabad, Jhang, Rahimyar Khan, Khushab, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Arifwala, Kasur and Tandlianwala.

After the award ceremony, Punjabi Mushaira was held which was chaired by Baba Talib Jatoi.

The event was presided over by Malik Gulam Farid Kathia while former minister, Nabeela Khan, Hafeez Akhter, Mian Babar Sagheer and Asif Tanveer were present.