Associated Press of Pakistan, 17 Aug 2010

Ahmad Salim. London . May 2009. © Photo by Amarjit Chandan

ISLAMABAD: Ahmad Salim, famous Punjabi poet, writer and Senior Advisor at Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) has received President’s Pride of Performance Award on the occasion of Independence Day in recognition of his excellent contributions in the field of literature. Ahmad Salim has a diverse portfolio and has served the nation as for over 36 years as a teacher, language instructor, writer, researcher, translator and editor with the government, media, international organizations, and research institutions, said a press release on Tuesday.

He has over 150 publications to his credit, including 87 books, 22 research publications including three on curriculum and education, and eight international publications besides a number of articles in reputed newspapers.

Salim has also won other awards such as best poem on Faiz in 1966, Writer’s Guild Award on best translation from Sindhi to Punjabi in 1977, Masood Khaddarposh Award on best Punjabi prose work in 1996, Masood Khaddarposh Award on 3rd best Punjabi prose work in 1996, Satguru Ram Singh Azadi Award in 1999 (UK), Punjabi Adabi Sangat Award (UK) on best Punjabi contribution in 2000 and best script for PTV documentary, Cholistan, in 1978.

His publications include 25 books of literary work on poetry, fiction, criticism, travelogue in Punjabi; 20 non-fiction books; 20 research books on minorities in Pakistan 1947 and 1971; he has compiled over 40 books on literature, history, and freedom movements while he is currently compiling 15 more books on these subjects.