“Book of Words” by Abai and a Kazakh-Urdu-English Phrasebook were Presented at the National Library of Pakistan

Islamabad, April 22, 2024 – At the National Library of Pakistan, the Embassy of Kazakhstan, together with the Chief Executive Officer of Diplomatic Insight Muhammad Asif Noor, organized a presentation of “Book of Words” by Abai Qunanbayuly, translated into the languages of the 4 provinces of Pakistan - Pashto, Punjabi, Sindi and Balochi, alongside a Kazakh-Urdu-English phrasebook.

The translation of the work of the Great Kazakh thinker was undertaken by the National University of Modern Languages (NUML), while the phrasebook was prepared and published with joint collaboration of NUML and the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

The presentation of the books was attended by representatives of official, academic, creative circles of Pakistan, as well as the diplomatic corps accredited in Islamabad.

In his welcoming speech, Ambassador Yerzhan Kistafin spoke about the influence and role of the Great Abai, his contribution to the development of literature and philosophy, while particularly highlighting the “Book of Words”.

The Head of the Embassy of Kazakhstan emphasized the importance of developing cultural ties between the peoples of Kazakhstan and Pakistan, given their shared cultural and historical heritage.

President of the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies, Farhat Asif, underscored that the translation of Abai’s “Book of Words” into the languages of the provinces of Pakistan is a significant contribution that breaks down language barriers between our countries.

The President of the Cultural Institute of the Economic Cooperation Organization, Saad Khan, who took part in the online format from Tehran, noted the enduring values preached by Abai in his works, are not limited to contemporary Kazakhstan but also to the broader region and the global community.

Saad Khan requested that the presented books be given to the ECO Library Foundation.

Director of Allama Iqbal Open University of Educational Technology, Irfan Ali Ansari noted that the presentation of books is a bridge in cultural interaction between the two countries.

Former Director General of the Pakistan Literary Academy, Khalid Iqbal Yasir, who first translated “Book of Words” into Urdu back in 1997, elaborated about the life and work of the Great Abai, his contribution to the development of Kazakh literature to the participants.

Director General of the National Library of Pakistan, Asif Iqbal Khan, emphasized that literature is a tool for uniting peoples, which helps to transcend borders and strengthen mutual understanding between countries.

At the end of the event, Yerzhan Kistafin solemnly presented the Director General of the National Library of Pakistan Asif Iqbal Khan, the ex-Director General of the Pakistan Literary Academy Khalid Iqbal Yasir and the Head of the Diplomatic Corps to the Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Pakistan Atajan Movlamov with the gift of “Book of Words” by Abai and a Kazakh-Urdu-English phrasebook.