Pakistan's Urdu magazine Zarbaft dedicated its October 2018 edition to the literary achievements of Qatar-based poet and writer Asif Shafi.
"I am indebted to Zarbaft magazine for acknowledging my services and releasing its special edition in my name," said Shafi, who has a long list of well-received books to his credit.
Shafi is a young poet and his ghazals have been appreciated by legendary literary stalwarts like Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, Shehzad Ahmed, Khawaja Muhammad Zikriya, Amjad Islam Amjad, Dr Saleem Akhter, Shahida Hassan, Saadullah Shah, Idrees Babar, Professor Ali Ahmed Fatmi and Khalid Aleem.
Shafi's books include 'Zara Jo Tum Thar Jatay', 'Koi Phool Dil Main Khila Nahi', 'Kabhi Waqt Milay To Aa Jao', 'Juda Hona Hi Parta Hai', 'Piar Sazawan', 'Tere Hamra Chalna Hai' and 'Woh to Khusboo Hai'.
Professor Saleem Ahmed Siddiqui published a book in English titled 'Stranger for Centuries' comprising translation of Shafi's select poetry.
Shafi's ghazals have been sung by famous Bollywood singers like Peenaz Masani, Vaishali Samant, Pooja Gaitonde and Rafique Sheikh. The album of his ghazals has been named after his book 'Kabhi Waq Miley To Aa Jao'.
The 212-page special edition of the magazine has been published by Faiz Academy, Narowal, Pakistan and encompasses Shafi's select works and articles written by men of letters on Shafi.
Zarbaft is published simultaneously from Lahore and Narowal and Sarwar Arman is its editor. Syed Shehzad is the assistant editor while Prof Syed Mohammad Raza Zaidi is the chief patron of the magazine.
Shafi graduated from the University of Engineering Technology (UET), Lahore, as a mechanical engineer in 1997. Shafi, who wrote his first book of critical essays on famous Urdu poet Saadullah Shah at the age of 24, considers engineering as his profession and poetry as his passion.
Shafi's devotion, perseverance and passion have proved those wrong who consider engineering and poetry as two different disciplines that cannot go hand in hand.
Shafi firmly believes that creativity is the main driving force behind the success of any person, be it a poet or an engineer.