President wants database of needy artists

The purpose behind this was to provide financial support to artists, families during times of financial turmoil

ISLAMABAD: As the government works on a welfare system for deserving and needy artists in the country, President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday underlined the need for developing an accurate database for all such artists to ensure transparent disbursement of funds.

He said this while chairing the ninth steering committee for the federal government’s Artists’ Welfare Fund at the Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad on Monday.

Noting that the basic purpose of the fund was to provide financial support to needy artists, Dr Alvi said that artists are a valuable part of the society.

Many of these, he said, have rendered enormous services for the promotion of art and a soft image of the country.

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“Therefore, it is our responsibility to look after them at a time of need,” he added.

The Federal Government Artists’ Welfare Fund was created in 2011 with a seed money of Rs200 million.

The purpose behind the creation of this fund was to provide financial support to artists or their families when an artist is in an impoverished condition and needs financial support; when an artist is inactive due to advanced age, adverse health conditions, or otherwise handicapped from accident or disease; as financial support to the artist’s family after their death.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2019.