The Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres was presented to distinguished writer and journalist Bina Shah by France’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Nicolas Galey.
During his speech, Mr Galey emphasised Shah’s notable compliments and revealed that she returned to Pakistan after completing her higher education in the United States. Because of her love of literature, she has made numerous contributions since then.
She has published two collections of short stories and five novels, including the best-selling Slum Child in 2011 and A Season for Martyrs in 2014.
The French Embassy in Pakistan announced the honour on Twitter, saying it was given in recognition of her abilities as a writer and journalist, as well as her contribution to women’s rights and passion for the French language and culture.
Shah stated at the award ceremony that she began learning French when she was 12 years old and then moved to the United States for her education. After returning to Pakistan in 1995, she became involved with Karachi’s Alliance Francaise.
Bina Shah, a writer and author, published two collections of short stories and five novels between 2000 and 2018, including the best-selling Slum Child in 2010 and A Season For Martyrs in 2014. The first of the two novels was awarded in Italy and published in French in 2016 by the renowned publishing house Actes Sud.
Her literary works were published not only in Urdu and English, but also in French and Italian, as well as Spanish, Danish, Chinese, German, Turkish, and Vietnamese.
Bina Shah also wrote columns for the International New York Times, Al Jazeera, The Huffington Post, The Guardian, and The Independent, and she continues to write for dawn on a regular basis.
