PESHAWAR, July 11: Stage performers and recording artiste on Monday announced plans to hold a fund-raising concert for the flood-affected population of three districts in the Frontier province. “We are planning to hold a concert in aid of the flood-affected population of Peshawar, Nowshera and Charsadda districts,” said Tariq Jamal, president of the Artistes Welfare Association Zoom (Awaz). But the artistes’ community has not been able to find a venue as yet. “There is no place to hold the concert because there is a ban on musical concerts at Nishtar Hall,” Mr Jamal said, referring to the city’s sole theatre hall and automatic choice for cultural shows.

Mr Jamal told reporters at the Peshawar Press Club that the government’s decision to prohibit cultural events from being staged there had badly affected the livelihood of people associated with the performing arts.

“Hundreds of stage performers and musicians have shifted their businesses to Lahore and Karachi while others have abandoned the profession altogether,” he said.

According to him, the military-led government had imposed a ban on cultural shows at the 600-seat Nishtar Hall following some objectionable performances by artistes from Punjab.

“Instead of penalizing artistes across the board,” he said, “the government should have monitored the programmes and punished only those indulging in immoral activities.”

“Now all performers have decided to raise funds in aid of the flood victims, but we need a venue which is not available to us,” Mr Jamal said. Flanked by other TV, radio and stage performers, instrumentalists and singers, he said that no organisation had so far announced relief programmes for the affected people.

“Artistes would like to take the lead and perform for the benefit of their brethren, but the only place where they could fulfil their desire is not available to us,” he said.

Both male and female singers will perform at the concert which will also feature skits by local celebrities. He said that all the crowed-pulling artistes had confirmed their participation at the show.

Several artistes have visited the affected areas and have expressed deep concern about the condition of people displaced by the floods. “We do not have any other means to help the people, except to hold benefit concerts for them,” he added.

BANK OF KHYBER: The Bank of Khyber (BoK) has opened a special relief account for the flood affectees of the NWFP under the Chief Minister’s Flood Relief Fund (current account No. 5005). The provincial senior minister Sirajul Haq has appealed to people from all over the country as well as those based overseas to deposit funds at any branch of the Bank of Khyber.