Chairperson

Dr. Najeeba Arif

Chairperson, Pakistan Academy of Letters

Serving as Chairperson since August 2023

Biographical Profile

Dr. Najeeba Arif is a distinguished scholar, creative writer, literary critic, researcher, and translator. She holds the historic distinction of being the first woman to serve as Chairperson of Pakistan Academy of Letters, assuming office in August 2023. Prior to this appointment, she served as Dean of the Faculty of Languages & Literature and Chairperson of the Department of Urdu at the International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI).

Her major field of specialization is Archival Research, through which she has discovered, edited, and published approximately twelve manuscripts from the 18th and 19th centuries. She has authored over twenty books and published more than sixty articles in national and international research journals. Her poetry is taught at Ankara University in Turkey, reflecting her international literary recognition.

Dr. Arif founded the first Indexation Agency for Urdu Research Journals at IIUI and served as editor of the renowned research journals Meyār and Bunyād. She has participated in numerous national and international literary conferences and seminars, and actively represents Pakistani literature on global platforms.

Academic Qualifications

Literary Works

Dr. Najeeba Arif's works span the diverse genres of poetry, short fiction, novels, memoir, literary criticism, and translation.

Awards & Recognition

Administrative Career

Key Initiatives at PAL

Under Dr. Najeeba Arif's leadership, PAL has significantly expanded its literary activities and launched several new initiatives:

• "Chai, Baatein aur Kitabein" (Tea, Conversations, and Books) — weekly informal literary gathering held every Wednesday at PAL headquarters in Islamabad
• Residential Creative Writing Program — providing a conducive literary environment for writers from remote areas
• Student visits from educational institutions for dialogue with the new generation
• Expanded literary events, seminars, poetry recitals, and book launch ceremonies across the country
• Advanced the Pakistan-China publishing project — translation of both countries' literature
• Continued translation series of Pakistani Sufi poetry heritage
• Special measures for preservation of endangered Pakistani languages
• Kashmir Solidarity Day events, international literary conferences, and cross-border cultural programs
• Announced World Literary Conference for April 2026

International Representation

As Chairperson of PAL, Dr. Najeeba Arif has actively represented Pakistani literature on global platforms. She led Pakistani delegates at international literary conferences in China, delivering keynote speeches. She believes that "literature knows no borders" — at the tribute ceremony for Dr. Khalil Toqar, she emphasized the deep spiritual and intellectual bond between Turkish and Pakistani literary traditions, pledging to further strengthen these cultural ties.

Her personal literary works have also gained international recognition — her poetry is taught at Ankara University in Turkey, and she completed her post-doctoral research at SOAS, University of London.

Past Chairpersons of PAL