سوئے حرم لے چل | کیوں نہ ہم بھی سیر کریں ساؤتھ کوریا کی | ڈاکٹر مختار ظفر

Dr. Mukhtar Zafar remained a teacher of Urdu language and literature, performed duties on administrative posts, wrote articles and books, and also kept editing the literary page of Daily Khabrain Multan.

In 1994, he obtained his Ph.D. degree on the topic "Poetic Tradition of Urdu in Multan". His academic and literary journey continued with a research-oriented temperament. In the current year, another dimension of his literary journey emerged: "Soo-e-Haram Le Chal" and

"Kyun Na Hum Bhi Sair Karein South Korea Ki"

under these titles, two of his travelogues were published in a single volume.

The former is a brief travelogue of Umrah, and the latter is of South Korea.

In both travelogues, the author's deep observation, impressions, comments, and explanations are adding to their importance. Glimpses of the author's extensive reading are visible on every page. The appropriate use of verses from classical and modern poets here and there makes these travelogues even more interesting.

The travelogue of Umrah is written while being immersed in devotion and reverence. The solemnity that this travelogue demands is kept in view by the author. While in the South Korea travelogue, wit and mischief also show their color:

"Due to the facilities available here, one is not forced to say in the language of Nazeer Akbarabadi that

"Bus taraste hi rahe afsos pemanay ko hum"

nor that

May bhi hai meena bhi hai saghar bhi hai saqi nahi

Dil mein aata hai laga dein aag maikhanay ko hum

(p. 129)