NA panel wants PTDC to be placed under culture division

Islamabad : The National Assembly Standing Committee on Federal Education, Professional Training, National Heritage and Culture has called for a 25 per cent increase in the budget allocation for the Culture and Heritage Division, saying the move will support the preservation and promotion of the country’s cultural heritage.

The committee met here at the National Library of Pakistan with Dr. Azimuddin Zahid Lakhvi in the chair to review the National Heritage and Culture Division’s budget proposals for the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2025-26. It also recommended that the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) be brought under the Division to strengthen the connection between tourism and cultural heritage. The committee proposed the creation of a YouTube channel under the Quaid-e-Azam Academy to share historical content on Pakistan’s literary figures and recommended including chapters on Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Muhammad Iqbal in the national curriculum to foster a deeper understanding of their contributions. To engage younger generations, the committee encouraged the Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam Academies to hold events and requested increased funding for these initiatives.

It also suggested establishing the Iqbal Complex in Sialkot to honour national poet Allama Iqbal's legacy and proposed relocating the Faiz Ahmad Faiz Complex to Sialkot from Narowal for historical relevance. Members raised concerns about the smuggling of historical artifacts and called for efforts to repatriate 400 stolen statues, emphasising the need for stricter protective measures.