Pakistan Cultural Week: 60 master artisans awarded at Lok Virsa

Cheques of Rs30,000 distributed, PBM told to provide them further assistance.

ISLAMABAD:

To recognise the services of craftspeople in the promotion of the Pakistani culture, Samina Khalid Ghurki, the federal minister for national heritage and integration distributed cheques of Rs30,000 among 60 master artisans participating in the Pakistan Cultural Week on Wednesday.

The week is being held at the Lok Virsa complex, Shakarparian under the aegis of Federal Ministry for National Heritage and Integration.

The artisans, who have mastered crafts such as bridal embroidery, pattu weaving, ajrak, wax printing, tie-dye, block painting and traditional doll-making, requested the minister for financial incentives to aid them in acquiring essential training and holding workshops. The minister, after distributed the cheques, directed Zamurad Khan, the managing director of Director Pakistan Baitul Maal (PBM) to comply with their request for financial incentives.

“Craftspeople are the treasure of our country and they will be extended every possible support,” Adviser to Prime Minister for Human Rights Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said during his address. He said that Pakistani handicrafts have the potential to compete in the international market and the government is doing what it can to give them exposure. “The ongoing Pakistan Cultural Week is also a step forward in this direction,” he added.

Minister of State for Science and Technology Raheela Baloch, Senator Rubina Khalid, PBM MD and large number of artisans and people from various walks of life attended the ceremony.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2013.