Looking after artists in old age

ISLAMBAD: This is with reference to a story in your newspaper of February 7 on Ustad Raheem Baksh. Azam Khan’s moving report on the plight of the musician is illustrative of the failure of our society to look after artists in old age. I would further suggest that your newspaper broaden the focus and either itself launch or urge the Pakistan National Council of Arts to establish a welfare fund for artists and solicit voluntary contributions for the purpose.

The Foreign Office Wives’ Association raises funds through voluntary contributions and an annual mela to assist low-paid employees and their families. The example merits emulation.

Yesmine Anwar

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2012.