Folk singer also awarded Rs100,000 by Institute of Language, Art and Culture.
Folk singer Shaukat Ali was awarded the Pride of Punjab Award by the Pakistan Institute of Language, Art and Culture (PILAC) at a ceremony held here at the PILAC auditorium on Saturday.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Ali said he felt honoured. He said, “The award comes from a country I love and where I was born.
It comes from a region [Punjab] which has been like my mother to me,” he said. “There is nothing like a gift from mother,” he said.
Ali recalled that had received the Voice of Punjab award in 1976.
“I received that award when I was in Europe…This time it’s different, I am at home,” he added.
In addition to the citation, the PILAC award carries Rs100,000.
The auditorium was filled with people. Many had brought flowers and queued up to have a picture taken with Ali.
The ceremony started with a short performance by Shabana Abbas from Kasur, the winner of the Heer Singing Competition held by PILAC on July 4.
Muhammad Asim Chaudhry, the PILAC deputy director said, “This is an occasion to celebrate not only Shoukat Ali’s achievement but also the cultural heritage of the Punjab.”
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervez Rasheed and Information and Culture Department Secretary Momin Agha were also present on the occasion.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2013.
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