Ali Zafar appeals to President Alvi on behalf of struggling artists

Popular singer and actor Ali Zafar has made an appeal to the president of Pakistan Arif Ali on behalf of the artist community. In a video message, Zafar pointed out how the performing artists of Pakistan have been left unattended with no alternative means of survival since the pandemic broke out. He went on to explain how his foundation in collaboration with another foundation and the Arts Council has been helping the needy artist community of Lahore and Karachi with weekly donations.

However, after reviewing the data from the donation drive it became evident that government intervention was the only permanent solution to this issue, especially since the lockdown may persist until a vaccine is available.

“Since Covid-19, people affiliated with the entertainment and performing arts industry have suffered a lot. This is an appeal to the president of Pakistan on behalf of the musicians, performers, and technicians of Pakistan,” said Zafar in the video message.

 “Although we can't really call it an industry since it has never been treated like one and many reforms are needed but that’s matter for a different day and time. We must understand that the suspension of live shows and gatherings has also suspended the livelihood of the people who put those shows together.”

Zafar then reiterated how large gatherings will only be possible once a vaccine arrives but until then, sustainability of this unattended labour force needs to be ensured.

“My foundation has been sending food and donations to musicians in Punjab for several weeks now. We also collaborated with another foundation to make the process of transferring money to them virtually,” revealed Zafar, while explaining how the process of sending money while avoiding the contraction of Covid-19 had also been made possible.

As far as Karachi is concerned, Zafar relayed, “The Karachi Arts Council is doing its level best to sustain the lives of the artists there and I am in touch with them.” He revealed that the council, along with his foundation and the foundation he collaborated with had also started collecting data of the artists in need, in order to figure out how many people needed to be facilitated.

He then appreciated the efforts of the government for increasing the yearly budget of the artist welfare fund from 250 million to 1 billion and continued to request the president to distribute that fund among the needy.

“I would really like to appeal that fund to be disseminated immediately because the situation is getting worse. And I would also like to add that the amount is distributed virtually so that these people do not have to stand in lines outside offices and be embarrassed,” Zafar concluded.

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