KARACHI, July 22: Sindh Minister for Tourism, Culture and Social Welfare, Shabbir Ahmed Qaimkhani, paid Rs531,000 as monthly, quarterly and six-monthly stipends to 76 writers, poets and artists at his office on Friday. Addressing the gathering, Mr Qaimkhani said that the budget of his department towards this account was Rs1,760,000 when he took over as the minister. But, he said, the amount had been increased to Rs4 million in the current budget to promote the culture of the province.

He said that the culture department had so far disbursed Rs1,380,000 among artists, writers and poets. In order to ensure transparency in disbursement of relief funds, the culture department had constituted a committee consisting of Nisar Memon, Hamid Bhutto and MPA Bilqees Bakhtiar, he added.

Out of total disbursement, 22 persons including artist Saeed Memon, poet Sawech Sujawali, Mubeen Panahi, television artist Anwar Solangi and daughter of poet Josh Malihabadi got a total of Rs285,000 as one-time financial assistance.

Besides, the minister gave away cheques worth total of Rs246,000 to 54 persons as monthly, quarterly and six-monthly stipend, while the cheques of 211 artists hailing from interior of province would be distributed through DCOs.

Secretary Culture Mehtab Akbar Rashdi, Director-General Culture N.D. Jatoi, artist Zoaib Hassan and others were also present on the occasion. —PPI