SIALKOT, Aug 4: The district government’s plan to set up art galleries in public colleges, schools and libraries in collaboration with the business community could not be materialized even two years after the district nazim’s announcement in this regard.

Announcing the project two years ago, District Nazim Mian Naeem Javaid had said that maximum opportunities of learning art and calligraphy would be provided to students. He had also announced establishment of first art gallery in the district at Allama Iqbal library.

Reports said the district government had appointed Sialkot-based calligrapher Bashir Ahmad Kanwar to deliver lectures on the subject in educational institutions.

Official sources told Dawn that principals of all the government colleges and heads of schools had also been directed by the district government to set up an arts department. Later, the district government did not show any interest to this effect.

Meanwhile, calligrapher Bashir Ahmad Kanwar (Pride of Performance) said there was a great talent in the district which needed patronage.

Pre-poll rigging: Local PML-N and PPP leaders have alleged that the entire government machinery is busy in the electioneering of PML-backed candidates in Sialkot and Narowal districts.

They also alleged that the local administration was misusing development funds for getting desired results in the local government elections.

Talking to reporters here on Thursday, PML-N’s Sialkot district president Idrees Ahmad Bajwa and PPP Sialkot president Chaudhry Zahid Bashir alleged that the government was harassing candidates of all other parties.

They claimed that they had submitted several complaints of pre-poll rigging to the Election Commission, urging it to take a serious notice of this malpractice.