Landi kotal: The 32nd death anniversary of renowned Pashto poet and writer Amir Hamza Khan Shinwari was observed on Wednesday. Shinwari, a pivotal figure in Pashto literature, made significant contributions throughout his life, leaving an indelible mark on the literary community.

According to Radio Pakistan, Shinwari was born in Landi Kotal and began his journey in the literary world by writing the first Pashto drama, 'Zamindar,' for All India Radio Peshawar in 1935. His pioneering efforts continued with the creation of the story, dialogues, and lyrics for the first Pashto film, 'Laila Majnoon,' released in 1941.

Shinwari's contributions extended beyond drama and film, as he penned numerous radio dramas, features, and speeches for Radio Pakistan Peshawar. He also served as the editor of the Pashto page of the English newspaper 'Khyber Mail,' where he regularly contributed columns titled 'Zhor Fikrona' (Deep Thoughts) on a range of social and literary topics.

In recognition of his literary achievements, the Government of Pakistan honored Amir Hamza Shinwari with the 'Pride of Performance' and the 'Sitara-i-Imtiaz' awards. Shinwari passed away on this date in 1994, but his legacy continues to inspire readers and writers alike.