Senate panel pushes cultural reforms
A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on National Heritage and Culture was held at Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Hidayatullah Khan. The meeting was attended by Senators Rubina Khalid, Syed Waqar Mehdi, and Senator Sarmad Ali, along with the Secretary, Ministry of National Heritage and Culture and other relevant officials.
The Committee received detailed briefings from the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), the National Library of Pakistan (NLP), and the National Language Promotion Department (NLPD) regarding their functions, responsibilities, and initiatives to promote regional culture, provide a literary environment for youth, and advance the national language at both domestic and international levels. Their annual budget allocations were also reviewed in detail.
The PNCA Director General informed the Committee that the organisation was established under a 1973 Act, with its headquarters in Islamabad and regional offices in Lahore, Karachi, Gilgit, Quetta and Jamshoro. Members expressed concern over the absence of a regional office in Peshawar and decided to take up the matter with the Government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the Chief Secretary.
Senator Rubina Khalid suggested that the issue also be raised with the Federal Minister and the Prime Minister. Senator Waqar Mehdi stressed the need to better highlight PNCA's role and increase public awareness of its facilities.
The Committee was informed that PNCA is governed by a 30-member Board of Governors. Members raised concerns that only a limited number represent cultural and artistic fields and recommended inclusion of more relevant professionals.
The Chairman sought details of appointment procedures, tenure, income, and CVs of board members to assess their credentials.
The Committee also directed PNCA to submit details of its income and expenditure over the past three years. It was informed that in FY 202425, PNCA organised 38 programmes in Performing Arts, 41 in Visual Arts, 30 by the National Puppet Theatre, and two under cultural pacts.
PNCA currently has 232 sanctioned posts, of which 43 are vacant. The institution generated Rs185 million in revenue in FY 202425, compared to Rs48 million in FY 202324 and Rs69 million in FY 202223. Its annual budget stands at Rs265 million, while PSDP allocation is Rs9 million. The Committee expressed concern over the low PSDP allocation and recommended its enhancement. The Secretary informed that a proposal of Rs10 billion for the next fiscal year is under consideration.
The Committee stressed the importance of strengthening cultural institutions and directed that the matter of increased funding be taken up with the Prime Minister. Senator Rubina Khalid also proposed workshops with renowned artists and greater opportunities for emerging talent, particularly the inclusion of children in cultural programs.
It was further informed that PNCA events had not been approved over the past two months due to security concerns; however, new programs are being planned for the coming year, requiring sponsorship support. Some initiatives are also being developed in collaboration with Korea and South Africa.
A detailed briefing was also given on affiliated bodies, including the National Art Gallery, Shakir Ali Museum Lahore, and the Performing Arts Division.
The Committee recommended the inclusion of culture-related subjects in the national curriculum and was informed that digitization efforts are underway.