Zaitoon Bano

Zaitoon received her primary schooling and matriculation from a city school, and later obtained master's degree[1] from the Islamia College University[4] in Pashto and Urdu as a private student. After completing her education, she used to taught at various educational institutions, and later joined Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation where she served as a producer.[1] Prior to debuting in writings, she was associated with the Radio Pakistan[6] and Pakistan Television Corporation, a state-owned Television channel.

She started her career in 1958 when she was studying in ninth grade with her first short story titled Hindara (Mirror). Between 1958 and 2008, she wrote fiction books and short stories in Urdu and Pashto languages. Her publications include Maat Bangree, Khoboona (1958), Juandi Ghamoona (1958), Berge Arzoo (1980) and Waqt Kee Dehleez Par (1980). Among other publications, a short stories titled Da Shagu Mazal (A Journey Through Aands) revolves around stories written between 1958 and 2017. She wrote only one poetry collection in Pashto titled Manjeela (head cushion) which was published in 2006. Besides writing, she is also credited for contributing to numerous radio and television plays.[7]

Work

Key

Remarks denote a short description of the work where available.

#	Title[4]	Year	Type/Credited as	Remarks
1	Hindara (Miror)	1958	Short story	N/A
2	Maat Bangree	1958	Short story	N/A
3	Juandi Ghamoona	1958	Short story	N/A
4	Sheesham Ka Pata	1978	Short story	N/A
5	Bargad Ka Saiya	1978	Short story	N/A
6	Berge Arzoo	1980	Novel	It was later broadcast as an Urdu serial on Pakistan Television under the title Dhool.
7	Waqt Kee Dehleez[8]	1980	Short story	N/A
8	Khoboona	1986	Short story	Later released as a play in 1991
9	Kachkol	1991	Play	N/A
10	Zama Dairy	N/A	Book	N/A
11	Naizurray	N/A	Book	N/A
12	Da Shagu Mazal (A journey through sands)	N/A	Book	It covers the social issues of the Pakhtun women
13	Manjeela (head cushion)	N/A	Poem	N/A

Zaitoon was awarded fifteen national literary awards including the Pride of Performance[7] and Fakhr-i- Peshawar award in recognition of her contribution to Pashto and Urdu fiction.[1][9] In 2016, a panel of the Sustainable Development Goals, awarded her a honorary title Khatun-e-Awal (first lady) or "first lady of Pashto fiction" during the International Women’s Day celebration in recognition of her service to the women's rights in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[10]