Artistes protest against missing dance, music pavilions at Lok Mela

Mismanagement mars cultural festival on first day

ISLAMABAD:

The annual Lok Mela under the auspices of the Ministry of National Culture and Literary Heritage fell victim to mismanagement on the first day on Monday.

Officials of provincial ministries of culture, who participated in the festival, strongly protested against the removal of dance and music pavilions at the festival.

The administration has done away with the dance and music pavilions at the annual event.

Artistes belonging to Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir while lodging their protest demanded that the dance and music pavilions should be revived.

The festival was inaugurated by Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood. He said that our culture is our precious heritage. “The National Institution of Folk Heritage is not new to me and I am always very happy to be here.”

“This institution is welcoming artisans and craftsmen who are connected to the soil of their homeland with outstanding talent. Because of this, not only the artisans and craftsmen associated with the traditional arts have got a new life,” he said adding that the beautiful and bright face of Pakistan is seen worldwide in connection with this festival.

He said that the festival was part of the government's priorities to encourage such initiatives.

“They are directly related to the welfare of the people, the promotion and development of Pakistan's culture and the meaningful and healthy entertainment of the people. I am delighted that I was invited to the opening ceremony of the National Cultural Folk Festival of Pakistan today. This festival is very welcome in this regard as well,” Mahmood said.

He said that through it, we get a glimpse of the colourful culture of the diverse cultural units of Pakistan in one place and this festival also plays an important role in national unity. What is needed most today is national unity.

Representatives of all provinces and Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir's Culture Department, Punjab Provincial Minister for Culture Khayal Ahmed, Federal Parliamentary Secretary for National Heritage and Culture Ghazala Saifi, Federal Secretary for National Heritage and Culture Asif Haider Shah, Apart from Executive Director Folk Heritage Talha Ali, hundreds of artisans and craftsmen were also present.

A spokesman for the Folk Heritage said that the dance and music stage will be restored.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2021.