Dr Fouzia Saeed takes over as new PNCA chief

Former Lok Virsa executive director replaces Jamal Shah

ISLAMABAD: Former Lok Virsa director and researcher Dr Fouzia Saeed will take over as the new head of the premier arts council of the country on Friday (today).

In taking over as the director-general of the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), she replaces renowned playwright, painter and television actor Jamal Shah, whose tenure ended last September.

Dr Saeed is well known in the culture sector of the country, particularly from the time she spent at the helm of the National Heritage Museum – Lok Virsa in the federal capital.

During her three-year tenure there, she took the institution to new heights, regularly holding events at the museum and giving a boost to the traditional and diverse folk culture of the country by hosting the annual Lok Mela and the National Language Festivals.

Dr Saeed has been working on women issues for decades, the outcome of which are her two books, “Taboo” and “Working with sharks”.

She was also head of the Folklore Society of Pakistan where she played a prominent role as a civil society member. Her book “Folk Heritage of Pakistan” is the only book of its kind, whereas the book “Forgotten Faces” is about women of folk theatre is a rare book on the subject in the English Language.

She also holds a doctorate in philosophy in education with minors in cultural anthropology from the University of Minnesota. She also holds a masters degree in design and material culture from the same university.

At the helm of the biggest art institution in the country for performing arts including theatre and music, Dr Saeed is expected to play a significant role for the promotion of performing arts by utilising her interests in theatre and music which span over four decades.

Dr Saeed was last working as the gender adviser for United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pakistan.

The post of PNCA chief had been advertised shortly before Shah completed his three-year term in September.

Meanwhile, Lok Virsa has been without a proper head for almost two years after Dr Saeed’s departure.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2020.