Pakistan has a history of being unkind to its artists and the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government seems to be keeping up with that tradition. Hundreds of applications by the province’s artists requesting financial assistance have been submitted to the Directorate of Culture, but so far this year, only two people have received any sort of government aid. According to the artists, the government has not kept up with its promise of providing financial assistance to those of their number in need of help. In 2014, the number of artists provided with financial assistance was a measly 11.
There seems to be some evidence of misuse with respect to the funds meant for assisting artists, according to information obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) law and published in this newspaper. The Directorate of Culture has awarded money to organisations that seem to have little to do with promoting culture, including the Insaf Foundation. Moreover, a parliamentarian of the ruling PTI, Sardar Suran Singh, was given Rs1.5 million from funds meant for the promotion and support of cultural institutions and artists, although he has no known links with either the directorate or any cultural activities. Similarly, PTI MPA Dina Naz was given Rs925,820 for holding an award ceremony in her constituency. The money was directly given to her without a tender being published in newspapers.
The PTI has always claimed to have held the higher moral ground with its clear stance on being an anti-corruption party and promises of transparency, but the information gained through the RTI law seems to be indicating something different. It’s a shame that artists continue to be neglected, while funds meant for them are given to parliamentarians, who do not seem to have any connection to the arts. The security situation in K-P post-9/11 has severely affected artists and society at large. Gone are the days of concert tours and the broadcast of music shows on local television. In such circumstances, artists do not only need financial assistance, their work and talents also need to be promoted actively by the government machinery.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 1st, 2015.
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