Promoting culture: Unleashing the rich colours of K-P, tribal areas

After Peshawar, youth festival comes to federal capital.

ISLAMABAD:

To present the colourful side of Pakhtun culture, a collection of paintings, decorations, musical instruments and performing arts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and tribal areas were showcased at a youth festival here on Wednesday.

A large number of students, mostly belonging to University of Peshawar and the tribal belt, decorated their stalls, displaying local handicrafts, jewellery and other cultural antiques. The event also featured artefacts of Chitral and Afghanistan.

Ahmed Harris and Shakoor Afghan, who had set up a beautiful stall to promote Afghan culture, displayed a variety of antique items used in the third battle of Panipat (1761). They also showcased handicrafts and pictures, which they had obtained from the Afghan consulate in Peshawar.

“After taking part in the festival in Peshawar last month, I decided to attend the event in Islamabad and it has been a great experience,” said Sanam Hussain, a student.

In addition to that, a musical programme was also held, with famous Pashto singers Hashmat Sehar and Mohsin Dawar trying all their best to show militancy was not all their region was known for.

The highlight of the event was a performance of ‘Attan’, a folk dance practiced in Afghanistan, which had the entire audience captivated.

“I am surprised to see there is so much diversity and progressiveness in Pakhtun culture. There is a need to create awareness about Pakhtuns in the West,” said Fahad Khan, a visitor.

K-P Sports and Culture Minister Aqil Shah, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said the provincial government is taking steps to promote Pakhtun culture despite security threats. “The government is also trying to draft a youth policy to address unemployment, which is a serious issue for the people in Fata,” he said.

The day-long event was organised by Community Appraisal and Motivation Programme (CAMP), in collaboration with the German embassy.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2012.