LAHORE: A book launch of Rangrez, the new collection of short stories by poet and fiction Sofia Baidar, was held at the Alhamra Arts Center. Dr Tahira Iqbal presided over the event, while other speakers, including Dr Waheed Rehman Khan, Salma Awan, Dr Najeeb Jamal, Hamida Shaheen, Bilqis Riaz, Bushra Ijaz, Neelam Ahmed Bashir, Amir Faraz, Shehzad Nayar and Amina Mufti, praised Sophia Bedar’s work and expressed their admiration by reading her stories. Chairman Alhamra Razi Ahmad congratulated Baidar on publication of her new work. Sofia Baidar thanked Razi and Executive Director Sarah Rashid. Poet Abbas Tabish fondly remembered Alhamra’s invaluable services. Sofia Baidar said: “the past is for writing, the future is for pondering, and the present is for living.” Many people attended the ceremony and praised the book.