‘Colours of Balochistan’ festival next month

Prominent artists and artisans to showcase their craft at the event

QUETTA: The Balochistan government would organise a week-long cultural festival titled "Colours of Balochistan" at the Ayub Stadium in the provincial capital in the first week of next month, aiming at promoting art and culture of the province, a senior official on the organising committee of the festival told APP on Thursday.

Prominent artists and artisans from across the province would participate in the week-long event, said the official, adding that sportsmen and folk musicians from all the districts of the province would also participate in the festivities. The folk artists would present folk songs and folk performances in the cultural show, he said.

"The festival aimed to encourage the new talent and promote the soft image of the province through such cultural events," he said. “Traditional food court would be part of the festival, while a photo exhibition and stalls of handicraft would be arranged.|

He said the Balochistan government is taking various steps to promote culture and arts in the province. It also plans to provide more opportunities to the youth to polish their talents. “The government is focusing on channelling the creative capabilities of the students by imparting them training to enable them to preserve their cultural heritage,” the official said.

“Artists play a big role in portraying a soft image of the country and the government should organise such cultural events at school and college level to create interest and enhance awareness among the youth of the province,” prominent educationist Prof Abdul Qadoos Kakar said.

“Teaching cultural curriculum at institutional level will help create understanding among the people about universal language of arts and culture,” Kakar added. The festival organising committee has said that preparations for the "Colours of Balochistan" festival are under way.