A week-long series of literary and cultural competitions, the Faiz Week 2026, has begun at the Government College University, Lahore to celebrate the legacy of poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz at his alma mater.

As part of the opening-day activities, the university hosted “Kalam-e-Faiz Musawir”, a painting competition inspired by Faiz’s poetry, at Salam Hall.  The competition brought together 22 participants, including 15 students from GCU Lahore and seven students from other institutions, including Beaconhouse National University, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore and Punjab University College of Art & Design. Participants translated Faiz’s poetic themes into visual art through diverse expressions, reflecting creativity, social consciousness and aesthetic depth.

The event was organised by the Directorate of Student Affairs, GCU Lahore as part of the university’s efforts to strengthen students’ engagement with literature and the arts.

The artworks were judged by renowned Pakistani painter and Old Ravian Ajaz Anwar, who appreciated the depth, originality and conceptual strength of the submitted work.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Omer Chaudhry commended the students’ enthusiasm and praised the organisers for successfully holding the opening-day competition. He said Faiz Week aims to keep art, literature and cultural heritage alive within academic spaces, while offering students a meaningful platform to think, create and express. He added that Faiz’s message of hope, dignity and social justice continues to inspire new generations.

The results of “Kalam-e-Faiz Musawir” will be announced during the concluding ceremony of Faiz Week 2026. Other competitions planned during the week include theatre, taranum, bait baazi, nazm-o-ghazal, taht-ul-lafz and essay writing, followed by the Faiz seminar and closing ceremony.