Music performers await revival of livelihood

Almost all sectors except performing arts have been allowed to resume operation in the country subject to implementation of safety guidelines to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus.

Facing a prolonged interruption of their livelihood, singers, composers and other performers have protested for the revival of the music industry after similar demands by theatre artists and technicians.

A demonstration was held by an organisation representing musicians, in which a number of artists from the industry participated. The protesters carried placards with slogans lamenting their plight and criticising the government policy.

Prominent musician Nijat Ali said on the occasion that people from different walks of life and groups were seen protesting in the country throughout the year. Some blocked roads or besieged important buildings, while some vandalised property or created problems for citizens but no matter what the circumstances, people associated with the arts had never protested on the roads. This was because people associated with the sector had a peaceful mindset and their training included the realisation that they had to entertain people and not hurt them.

He said the artists had always come forward to support the people and the government after natural calamities and on issues of national importance.

He said the artist community was promoting a soft image of the country by demonstrating before the international community that Pakistanis were a peace-loving nation.

But today, when the coronavirus has severely affected all sectors, the government and its leaders were ignoring the artists rather than supporting them, he claimed.

“Thousands of artists of the music industry have lost their earning and savings but they would not beg. But now the situation is getting unbearable and that is why members of the artist community have also started protesting,” he said.

He appealed to President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan to allow resumption of the activities in various fields of performing arts with precautionary measures so that millions of people dependent on the sector could survive.

He said the artists were not looking for aid but for opportunities to earn for their families.

“When it comes to government assistance, its procedures are not transparent and the people given the responsibility do not know the genuine artists,” he said.

He said the government should prepare SOPs for the sector. “We will ensure implementation of the precautionary measures as we know that coronavirus is deadly and can only be countered effectively through prevention.”

The European countries hit by the pandemic are also rapidly returning to normal life with precautionary measures and activities in different fields of the arts have resumed there.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2020.