Mohammad Hameed Shahid

After his initial education, Shahid attended the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad from 1974, where he obtained an honors degree in Horticulture and Agriculture. Next, he attended the University of Punjab, Lahore to study law but left before completing his studies in 1983 to return to his native town Pindi Gheb as his father was seriously ill. After the death of his father, Shahid decided to join the Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan; there he obtained a banking diploma and also followed a number of courses on banking.

Shahid's first writing was published in 1973 when he was a student of Metric. As a university student, Shahid was editor-in-chief of the university literary magazine Kisht-e-Nau and it was in 1988 that he began writing fiction. His first book (پیکر جمیل) was offered to a publisher in 1980. His first collection of short stories, entitled Band Ankhoon se Paray (بند آنکھوں سے پرے), was published in 1994, followed by Jannum Jahunam (جنم جہنم) in 1998 and Margzar (مرگ زار) in 2004. His novel Mitti Adam Khati Hae (مٹی آدم کھاتی ہے) was published in 2007. In addition, Shahid has authored books of literary criticism such as Adbi Tanaziat (ادبی تنازعات), Ashfaq Ahmad: Shakheiat o funn (اشفاق احمد : شخصیت و فن), Urdu Afsana: Soorat-o-Mana (اردو افسانا صورت و معنی) and Lamhoon Ka Lams (لمحوں کا لمس). Shahid also translates international literary writing into Urdu and has written plays for television and columns for print media. Several of his stories have been translated into other languages.

• Syeda Zaheer Un Nisa Taalimi (Wakf) Award, 1995
• NCC Golden Jubilee Award bara’ay Aadab, 1997
• Markaz Award Bara’ay Aadbi Coloum Nigari, 1998
• Mian Muhammad Bakhsh Aadbi Award, 2006
• Azmat-e-Fan Award, bara’ay Adab, 2007