Government to launch welfare scheme for artisans: Shaheera Shahid

Provinces to help collect data of craftspeople, artisans says Lok Virsa DG

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Information Ministry has announced plans of developing a comprehensive system for the welfare of folk artists, artisans, craftspeople across the country.

The programme — under the national culture policy — will collect data about all of these people with help from the provincial governments. The data will help provide health insurance to them.

The data will also help the government devise a plan for reviving and keeping alive traditions which are under threat of dying out and being lost to history.

In this regard, those craftspeople and folk artists who are masters of their craft would be hired as lecturers in schools, colleges and universities so that they can pass on their craft to the next generation.

Lok Virsa Executive Director Shaheera Shahid told Daily Express that they will soon announce a package for the health insurance and stipend for artisans.

Punjab’s flair

The cold wave has come at the most opportune time for artisans at Lok Virsa who, in the Punjab pavilion, showcased their skills of making traditional winter wear items such as ‘khaddar’ and ‘darree’ apart from boasting a range of traditional Punjabi cuisines, some of which are perfect for winters.

This proved to be a major draw at the ongoing 10-day cultural festival ‘Lok Mela’ being held at the National Heritage Museum and Lok Virsa.

The Punjab pavilion in the mela boasted vibrant colours associated with Pakistan’s largest province by population. Even before one could see the pavilion, one knew that Punjab was in the air through the melodic tunes from traditional instruments and the smell of cuisines exclusive to the land of five rivers.

Over 50 craftsmen and craftswomen at the pavilion drew a host of visitors as they demonstrated the centuries-old craft techniques for bone work, lacquer art, tile work, tie and dye, block printing, wood carving, “darree” and “khaddar” weaving, basket making, pottery, embroidery and needlework, “zardozi”, metalwork, and shoe-making.



With an air of festivity about it, the pavilion boasted a vibrant culture of melodic folk music and dance, mythical folklores coupled with an overarching love for food and leisure.

Later in the evening, renowned Punjabi folk musicians including Fazal Jutt, Bushra Sadiq, Qurban Niazi, Rashid Anjum, Bashir Lohar, Khurram Zeeshan Niazi, Mansha, Iqbal Lashari, sang traditional folk tunes to the beat of Shaukat Ali’s folk drums.

Barkat Ali’s dance group also enthralled the audiences at the jam-packed open-air theatre.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 8^th, 2018.