# Shaista Nuzhat

Shaista Nuzhat (Punjabi: شائستہ نُزہت (Shahmukhi)) (born 1960s) is a Punjabi poet, writer, linguist, and researcher on Punjabi language and literature. She is founder director of the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture (PILAC) in Lahore.

## Biography
### Early life and education

Shaista belongs to Gujranwala District, Punjab, Pakistan. She gained a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of the Punjab, Lahore. She is popularly known as a poet in Punjabi and Urdu, a columnist, and a writer, and has been prominent in public speaking.

### Career

Shaista started her career as a lecturer in philosophy and later as a journalist. She has worked as a sub-editor in various national daily newspapers. She holds the portfolio of a public sector official and bureaucrat, working with the Government of Pakistan. She is alumni of National Institute of Management (NIM), Lahore and attended 12th Senior Management Course (SMC).

### PILAC

Shaista has worked to promote Punjabi language, literature, art and culture. As a result of her efforts, the Punjab Legislative Assembly passed a bill for the establishment of an institution named the Punjab Institute of Language, Art & Culture, which started functioning, initially, in 2005, in a rented building at Shadman Colony, Lahore, as part of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Youth Affairs, with Shaista as the founding director. The Institute brought together Punjabi writers, poets, and journalists in the PILAC (commonly known as Punjabi Complex), at 01-Qaddafi Stadium, Ferozpur Road, Lahore, with the support of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, the Ex. Chief Minister, Punjab. PILAC has been functioning from this complex since 2007, after an inauguration by Elahi. Shaista also started Pakistan's first Punjabi FM-radio channel named FM-Pechanway (FM-95) Punjab Rang, under the umbrella of PILAC, broadcasting from the Punjabi Complex.

### Foreign tours

Shaista has visited Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Thailand, India, UK, France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong-China, South Korea, and Sri Lanka, to deliver lectures and research papers in connection with promoting the Punjabi language.

## Publications

| Sr. No. | Title | Detail | Year |
| 1 | TUM | Urdu Poetry | 2017 |
| 2 | My Debut in Journalism | A compilation of published articles and columns, by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in different international magazines and newspapers on his period as a student | 2012 |
| 3 | Manto Se Milyay | Stage Play | 2011 |
| 4 | Ik Seeti Maar Mitra | A transliteration of short stories by Amarta Pritam | 2008 |
| 5 | Aqal te Ishq | A transliteration of Sufi poetry of Khushhal Khan Khattak | 2008 |
| 6 | Chaway Fareed | Sindhi translation of Kalam Baba Fareed-ud-Din Ganj Shakar with English, Urdu, and Gurumukhi script | 2008 |
| 7 | Our Legendary Intellectuals | Supervision of preparation and publishing of translation of poetry of seven Sufi Poets of Punjab | 2008 |
| 8 | Darshan Patno Paar | A book of Punjabi poetry | 2007 |
| 9 | Roedaad | Compilation of proceedings of Inter-Provincial Cultural Conference 2005 | 2006 |
| 10 | Mirza Sahiban | A revised poetic version of fol lore of Punjab | 2006 |
| 11 | Imranyat-e-Waris Shah | A book in Urdu and Gurumukhi on Sociological Philosophy of Waris Shah. Also been translated by Indian Universities in Gurumukhi | 2006 |
| 12 | Research Papers on Guru Grahnth Sahib | Research papers | 2005 |
| 13 | Bil Aakhir | A book of Urdu and Punjabi poetry | 1993 |

## Awards and honors

| Title | Awarded By | Year |
| Interfaith Harmony Award | Principal Officer of American Consulate, Lahore | 2008 |
| Award of Excellence in Culture | Government of Punjab | 2007 |
| Guru Nanak Heritage of Interfaith Understanding Award | United States | 2006 |
| Ambassador of Peace Award | Seoul, South Korea | 2006 |
| 208th Waris Shah Award | Waris Shah Academy, Jandiala Sher Khan | 2006 |
| Delhi Tax Bar Association Award | Delhi | 2006 |
| Sahir Ludhianvi Award | | 2006 |
| Khawaja Fareed Sangat Award | Lahore | 2005 |
| Adeeb International Award | India | 2005 |
| Award of Excellence | Department of Philosophy, University of Punjab | 2003 |
| Poetess of the Year Award | Lahore Gymkhana | 2002 |
| Waris Shah Award | Ministry of Information, Culture and Youth Affairs Department, Govt. of Punjab | 2002 |