What Happened: Raies Warsi received a lifetime achievement award from President Biden for his global promotion of Urdu and extensive volunteer work.
What you need to know: US President Joe Biden awarded a lifetime achievement medal to Raies Warsi, President of the Urdu Center in New York, in recognition of his long-standing dedication to building a strong nation through volunteerism. New York State Assembly member Jessica Gonzalez presented the award to Warsi for his extensive service.
What more: Warsi, who has worked with the International Humanitarian Foundation, the Carter Foundation, and Amnesty International, has promoted Urdu language and literature globally for 34 years. He organized the first Urdu conference at the UN to advocate for Urdu as an official UN language. The conference, supported by global leaders, led to a resolution to include Urdu in the UN’s official languages.
Also: Warsi and his brother Naseer publish the international literary journal “Virsa.” Warsi has also received numerous awards, including the Pride of Pakistan award in 2017. His ghazals are popular among renowned South Asian singers, and his works, including “Aina Hoon Mein” and “Kainat Dil,” have been highly acclaimed.