Folk music mesmerises Pindi

To promote cultural ties among the provinces, the Punjab Arts Council organised an inter-provincial musical and traditional folk dance programme.

Artistes from all over the country including Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan mesmerised the audiences with traditional folk dances and songs.

The musical groups, including Sain Riaz, Niazi Boys and Social Sagar from Punjab, Iftikharuddin and Haider Shaan from Gilgit-Baltistan, Amanullah and Sattar Khan from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shaukat Ali, Ajmal and Group and Aga Khan group from Sindh, Iqbal Hassan from Balochistan and Ashiq Butt from Azad Jammu and Kashmir took part in the event.

Punjab Arts Council Executive Director Suman Roy attended the event as a special guest. Speaking at the function, she said that the development of inter-provincial culture would help in further connecting Pakistanis. Folk festivals reduce the distance between people, she said, urging that such events should be organised in all the provinces of Pakistan, including Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

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“Cultural fairs are an important way for artisans to spread their art to the world,” she said.

As per the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, the government will issue health cards to the artistes, she said, adding that the Punjab government is providing financial assistance to thousands of artists.

She appreciated Arts Council Director Waqar Ahmed for bringing the culture of Pakistan under one roof. Speaking on the occasion, Ahmed said that organising inter-provincial musical and traditional folk dance is a healthy and welcoming sign.

In the end, the arts council director said that such family programmes should be regularly held in all provinces.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7^th, 2021.