‘Efforts afoot to formalise culture policy for Sindh’

Sindh has become the first province of not just Pakistan, but the entire subcontinent, to have formulated a culture policy and this is a step towards realising our dream of a vibrant and prosperous province.

These were views expressed by Syed Sardar Ali Shah, provincial minister for culture, tourism and antiquities, at the concluding session of a consultative workshop organised by UNESCO and the Sindh Culture Department.

The core objective of the workshop was to discuss a participatory policy design for the culture and creative sector and to raise awareness on the UNESCO 2005 Convention pertaining to the protection and promotion of diversity of cultural expressions. 

“It is unfortunate that, till today, there is no comprehensive cultural policy in Pakistan and the departments catering to this end continue to be run like a rudderless ship,” said the minister. 

“We are working on a war footing basis to develop the culture department but, without a proper policy, there can be no systemised operations. That is why it is imperative that every department – from education to youth and sports – should have its own policy framework.”  

Shah said his department viewed this step as a milestone and told the participants that a bill for formation of an overall policy mechanism for culture would soon be presented in the assembly. 

He added that, from amongst the participants of the consultative workshop, a working group would be formulated to further develop the province’s culture policy in line with the recommendations put forward. 

The recommendations proposed included measures for an inclusive culture policy combining literature, music, media/broadcasting, travel and tourism and preservation of language and heritage.

Other aspects included were suggestions for digitalisation of documents, archiving of audio-video records, database management of all subjects of culture, and for Sindhi to be made a national language.