Chairperson, Pakistan Academy of Letters
Serving as Chairperson since August 2023
First Woman to hold this officeProf. Dr. Najeeba Arif is a distinguished scholar, writer, and cultural leader whose work reflects a profound engagement with Urdu literature, South Asian intellectual traditions, and contemporary cultural discourse. As Chairperson of the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL), she brings to the institution a rare combination of academic excellence, literary insight, and visionary leadership.
With an illustrious career spanning teaching, research, authorship, and institutional development, Dr. Arif has made significant contributions across multiple literary genres. Her work in poetry and fiction demonstrates a deep aesthetic sensitivity and engagement with themes of identity, memory, and cultural continuity. As a literary critic, she has produced insightful analyses that bridge classical and modern traditions, offering fresh perspectives on Urdu literature and its evolving forms. In the field of archival research, she has played an important role in preserving, interpreting, and revitalizing literary heritage, contributing to the documentation and dissemination of rare and significant texts.
In recognition of her scholarly and literary contributions, Dr. Arif has received several prestigious national and international awards and honors, acknowledging her excellence in research, creative writing, and cultural scholarship.
At PAL, she is committed to revitalizing the Academy’s role as the premier literary institution of Pakistan, strengthening its engagement with writers, expanding its intellectual outreach, and enhancing its contribution to Pakistan’s soft cultural image. Under her leadership, the Academy is focusing on strategic reforms, digital expansion, international collaboration, and the preservation and promotion of indigenous literary heritage.
Dr. Arif’s vision emphasizes inclusivity, innovation, and institutional excellence, ensuring that literature continues to serve as a bridge between diverse communities and as a powerful medium for cultural expression and national cohesion.
Dr. Najeeba Arif's works span the diverse genres of poetry, short fiction, novels, memoir, literary criticism, and translation.
Under Dr. Najeeba Arif's leadership, PAL has significantly expanded its literary activities and launched several new initiatives:
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.
| # | Name | Tenure | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Najeeba Arif | 2023–Present | Current Chairperson |
| 2 | Dr. Yousuf Khushk | 2020–2023 | |
| 3 | Dr. Muhammad Qasim Baghio | 2015–2018 | |
| 4 | Abdul Hameed | 2012–2014 | |
| 5 | Fakhar Zaman | 2008–2010 | 2nd Term |
| 6 | Iftikhar Arif | 2000–2008 | |
| 7 | Nazir Naji | 1997–1999 | |
| 8 | Fakhar Zaman | 1994–1997 | |
| 9 | Ghulam Rabbani A. Agro | 1990–1993 | |
| 10 | Ahmed Faraz | 1989–1990 | |
| 11 | Prof. Pareshan Khattak | 1986–1989 | |
| 12 | Dr. Shafiq-ur-Rahman | 1980–1986 | First Chairman |
