Pledge made to revive art and culture in KP

PESHAWAR: Oath-taking ceremony of the Artiste Action Foundation is scheduled for December 3 at the Nishtar Hall.

Governor Ghulam Ali will be the chief guest at the event. Speaking at a press conference here on Monday, the foundation’s senior vice-chairman Tariq Jamal, Shazma Halim, Jamshed Ali Khan and other members said that Artistes Action Foundation had been constituted for the welfare of the artists and promotion of art.

The speakers said they were making efforts to safeguard the art and cultural sector, adding that they would reach out to anyone capable of contributing to the province’s art revival. 

Recognising artists as a sensitive segment of society, they urged the government to create a mechanism for identifying deserving senior artistes and providing them with a stipend for financial support.

They demanded establishment of an endowment fund for the artistes of the province, and framing of a policy for the promotion of theater and activities to strengthen indigenous art.They said that the government should provide opportunities to artistes and also demanded representation of artistes in the Abseen Arts Council. The speakers asked the government to announce land for the foundation to establish an office for the people affiliated with the entertainment industry.

They said that most of the people affiliated with art in the province were from poor backgrounds and hence the foundation would take care of deserving people.The speakers said that the organisational structure included Abdul Qayyum Hoti as patron, Dr Niaz Ali Khan Chairman, Tariq Jamal senior vice chairman, Arbaz Khan central president, chief organiser Dr Masoodur Rehman, general secretary Shazma Halim, joint secretary Fauzia Gulalai, press secretary Hassan Ali Shah, finance secretary Hamidullah Khan and public relations officer Muhammad Ilyas.