Street theatres in Pindi district from today
In this file photo, Sangat, a feminist people’s theatre and music group from Lahore, performed Chog Kusambey Di at The Second Floor on Thursday night. PHOTO: AYESHA MIR/EXPRESS
In order to create awareness about social issues, the Population Welfare Department of Punjab has announced to organise street theatres (putli tamasha) in all tehsils of Rawalpindi district from Wednesday (today) to 1st April.
District Officer Population Shireen Sukhan said that the purpose of such a programme is not only to create awareness about the population welfare programme but also to change the thinking of the people.
The programme will also create awareness regarding drugs, crime and the anti-dengue campaign, coronavirus precautions, and the regional culture of Punjab. Sukhan appealed to the public to attend the theatres with their families. “By participating in this programme people would not only be well aware of the growing population and problems arising out of it, but also gain awareness about how to overcome it and lead a better life.”
She added, “The scope of this campaign will be extended to public and private schools. The puppet show in schools will also create an element of entertainment along with culture. Puppet show items used to be common in fairs held across Punjab in which even adults with children took a keen interest. In addition, in the early days, puppet shows were also held in school. Now these extinct culture of street theaters and puppet shows is being revived.”
The village theatre is being organised in all tehsils of Rawalpindi district. The theatres will be held in Tehsil Taxila, Murree, Kotli Sattian, Kahuta and Gujar Khan from Wednesday (today) to 1st April.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 30th, 2022.