Federal Caretaker Minister for National Heritage and Culture Syed Jamal Shah on Friday visited the National Academy of Performing Arts (Napa) where he was briefed about various problems being faced by the academy that demanded an urgent government attention.
Shah, who is also a veteran actor and painter, engaged with the Napa senior management and listened to their concerns.
Following a presentation, he toured the academy and spoke to the media. He emphasised the critical role of culture and heritage in fostering unity in diversity.
Later, the federal culture minister addressed the media at the Karachi Press Club and expressed the interim government's commitment to improving economic conditions.
He asked the citizens not to lose hope. Shah underscored the importance of cultural diversity, asserting that it enlightened the youth about the beauty of unity in diversity.
Highlighting his ministry's initiatives, he said the culture ministry was about to launch a new channel, Virsa, dedicated to showcasing dramas in Punjabi, Sindhi, Balochi, Pushto, and other languages being spoken in the country.
He emphasised the pivotal role of films and dramas in educating the younger generation and shaping societal values. He revealed plans for the revival of cultural sites in Islamabad, providing artistes with platforms to showcase their talents through performances and fostering cultural promotion.
Expressing concern over the limited number of cinemas in Pakistan, he lamented the high ticket prices, stating that there should be over 4,000 cinemas to cater to the country's population adequately. As long as there was no increase in the number of cinemas, no significant progress in the film industry could be achieved, he said.
He called for giving tax relief to cinemas so that private parties could invest in making more cinemas. “Cinema is not just for business. It is a means of expression and a way to present a better image of society to the world,” he opined, The federal minister also vowed to improve operations and status of the National Museum of Pakistan and stated that no country could progress until the cultural identity of its citizens was strong.
“No country can move forward unless its people have a strong cultural identity connecting an individual to the surrounding environment, identity, and homeland,” said Shah, adding that the people who knew their cultural roots would make strong decisions and make good relations with other nations.
He said the tenure of the caretaker government was short and he wanted to make some good initiatives that the elected government could continue. Regarding the heritage side of his ministry, he said that after the 18th Amendment, heritage sites were given under the control of provinces. “Our ministry wants to work with the provinces to preserve these sites,” he said.
