‘Compèring a paying job now'

Islamabad: Compèring has become a paying job and can be adopted as a profession but great devotion and dedication is required to excel in this field, said Pakistan National Council of the Arts Director General Jamal Shah on Wednesday.

"Compèring is a very delicate and beautiful art form and it is the compère to take a programme to height of success or otherwise," he told the concluding ceremony of two-day compèring workshop arranged by the PNCA at the National Art Gallery here.

Jamal Shah said youth could excel in the fields of their choice but they must work with great devotion and dedication for it. He said the PNCA was always there to educate and train the youth in the field of art and culture and to familiarise them with their heritage.

"We are providing opportunities and platform to the youths to showcase their talents. More than 50 students belonging to Islamabad and Rawalpindi and enrolled in the Fatima Jinnah Women’s University, OPF College, Bahria University and other educational institutions participated in the workshop," he said.

Noted Legendry compère, Kanwal Naseer, who was also in attendance, highlighted the very basic principles and requirements of compèring and said a compère needed to be a well-read and well-versed person, familiar with the literature, background history and objectives of the event.

"The clarity of voice, correct pronunciation, command over language, confidence and orderly arrangement of the talk are the tools of successful compèring. Knowledge of the topic and rehearsal helps in controlling the audience," she said.