LAHORE: (Friday, December 14, 2012): Punjab University’s first ever international conference on calligraphy entitled ‘Sarir-e Khama: the Art of the Pen’ being organized by College of Art and Design is now in its second phase, which is a practical workshop on the art of calligraphy at Senate Hall. PUCAD Principal Prof Dr. Rahat Naveed Masud, Dr. Anis Sidiqui, Mrs. Kehkashan Jafri and as many as fifty students, teachers, calligraphers and lovers of this genre of art attended the workshop, which was conducted by international and local calligraphers. This calligraphy workshop started with an introductory presentation about the Qalam (pen), styles and their renderings by Pakistan Calligraphers Association General Secretary, one of the organizers of this conference and a renowned Pakistani calligrapher. Mr Qureshi was followed by a practical exhibition of calligraphy by an Iranian scholar and calligrapher Mr. Kazim Khurasani. Later, the Iraqi Calligrapher Mr. Salahuddin Shehzad showed his skills in Arabic styles of writing. He wrote the Persian title of the conference “Sarir-e Khama” in Arabic as “Sarir Al-Qalam." The fourth practitioner, Mr. Khusrev Subashi from Turkey rendered the first alphabet of Arabic, Persian and Urdu (ALIF), in various forms and styles regarding calligraphy. He also talked about the grace and subtlety of this letter by relating it to the concept of feminism that is very common in Turkey where ALIF is a popular name for girls; having the qualities of righteousness and fragility at the same time. A number of professional calligraphers from Pakistan also attended this workshop for having an international experience regarding this genre of art. Many research scholars and students of the college and from other institutions were also present at this unique workshop, which will continue until December 15.