Islamabad, February 27, 2025 – The Europe Today: Pakistan Academy of Letters under Ahl e Qalam Say Miliay arranged a meeting with famous Purtugese cultural journalist and writer Teresa Nicolau on 26 February 2025. Portuguese Embassador Manuel Frederico Da Salva presided over the event. Dr Arshad Waheed hosted the session. A number of prominent writers from Rawalpindi and Islamabad attended the meeting.
While talking to the participants Teresa Nicolau told that she was born in Portugal in 1973 and holds a PhD degree from the Universidad Autonoma da Lambasa in journalism and society. She also has a degree in communication sciences and has completed a New York film directing course. Several of her articles on culture and arts have been published in important magazines of Portugal. She said that she has hosted television and radio programs on culture and arts on television. She has also received the Portuguese Author Award and the Cultural Journals Award.
Answering the questions of the writers, she said that she enjoyed meeting the Pakistani people very much. She remarked that Vasco da Gama was an adventurer who reached on the shores of the subcontinent, but the colonial system was a political game played by the politicians, which she does not look favorably.
Portuguese Ambassador Manuel Frederico Pinheiro Da Silva said that this is the fourth time that he has come to the Academy and he is very happy to be here. Last time he visited Academy when another Portugese writer Jose Luis Peixoto was the guest speaker. He stressed the need of increasing cooperation in the field of literature between the two countries.
Dr. Najiba Arif, Chairperson, Pakistan Academy of Letters, said that today’s event is of great importance and she sees it as an opportunity to promote cross cultural ties of both countries. She mentioned that Pakistan Academy of Letters has already translated into Urdu a novel by the Portuguese novelist Jose Luis Peixoto and looks forward to continue mutual translation efforts. She also sincerely thanked the Honorable Ambassador of Portugal and Ms. Teresa Nicolau for gracing the ceremony by their presence. She also thanked the participants for attending the ceremony.
