Preserving heritage: Youth carnival kicks off in the city

Aims to promote K-P as tourist destination by showcasing art, culture, sports

PESHAWAR: Indigenous arts and culture of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa assumed centre-stage at a two-day mega festival that commenced at Qayyum Stadium on Saturday.

Mega Challenge 2016 was organised by Minister for Sports, Culture, Archaeology, Museums and Youth Affairs Mehmood Khan. It aims to promote K-P as a tourist destination by showcasing its heritage, art, culture, sports and natural beauty and encouraging people to
explore them.

According to the organisers, 300 men and 117 women from K-P, 128 men and 36 women from Punjab, 35 men and 18 women from Sindh, 63 men and 10 women from Islamabad and Federally Administered Tribal Areas will represent their culture, through dramatics, songs, arts and crafts, poetry, traditional dances and other competitions.

National impact

“The festival will promote our culture and will give confidence to our students,” Khushal Khan Khattak University Karak Student Affairs Incharge Fasihur Rehman told The Express Tribune.

He was extremely enthusiastic to lead a group of 40 participants at the event and said one of the student bands, Khushalyan, will also make its debut musical performance at the festival.

Rehman added Mega Challenge 2016 will create a platform for people of other provinces and countries to come to the city without any fear – something that has not been done in a long while.

“Security concerns have dealt a severe blow to culture and heritage of K-P,” he added. Local musicians and dancers presented their traditional customs and folk music. “This is a golden opportunity for our musicians and dancers to move centre stage,” said Asmatullah, who came all the way from Bannu to present his traditions.

Muhammad Ali Supro, a student of fine arts at University of Sindh Jamshoro, told The Express Tribune, “This is a great experience and a rare opportunity since we got the chance to visit Peshawar, exhibit our art and paintings and meet people from all over the country and witness their talent.”

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan who inaugurated the carnival asked students to promote their own culture. “If you want to survive, you have to follow and promote your own heritage and language,” he said.

Imran added English language should be learnt in order to achieve a higher education but indigenous languages should be spoken with pride.  He added majority of the country’s population comprised young people who needed proper direction and leadership to use their potential.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2016.