KARACHI, Sept 5: More than 200 young artists from the slums of Mohammadi Machchar Colony are participating in a three-day exhibition of paintings that begins on Saturday.

Sheila Ali, programme director of an NGO, Concern for Children, said that the exhibition, called “Machchar Art” would be the second edition of the programme launched last year to introduce artists from the underprivileged class. The artists include as young as seven and most of the participants, in their teens, have touched a variety of serious themes. Interestingly, many of them are illiterate and shoulder responsibilities of their families by joining in their profession of shrimp peeling.

The NGO had earlier held an exhibition of artwork and photography to raise funds for Machchar Colony.