ISLAMABAD: Lok Virsa has decided to involve schools in raising awareness among children about the various cultures in the country as many cultures, customs and languages and vanishing, Lok Virsa Executive Director Dr Fouzia Saeed told lawmakers on Thursday.

The discussion veered towards cultures during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas when Senator Jehanzeb Jamaldini said many cultures in the country are facing extinction and that special focus should be given to preserving them.

“We are holding special sessions with children in order to raise awareness about the cultures which are facing extinction because that is the only way they can remain alive. Special focus is being given to the Kalash people and some tribes of Balochistan and Sindh,” Dr Saeed said.

A profiling of local languages singers has also been started and a data base is being prepared to ensure they are not forgotten, she said, adding that many local sports are also facing extinction.

“Under the culture exchange program, children from one province will be informed about the culture and sports of other provinces. Efforts are also being made to include these things in the curriculum as this will help raise awareness among children about local sports, customs and cultures,” she said.

She told the lawmakers that after the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, China has also shown interest in investing in culture.

“A Chinese company visited us and offered to invest in a music academy and auditorium. We also want the hostel building to be renovated so we can invite singers and artists from across the country to train students in Islamabad,” she said.

She told members of the committee that the company wants to sign the memorandum of understanding with the information ministry and urged the committee to recommend that the ministry sign the MoU.

“It is almost impossible for us to invest in such a huge project as 90pc of our budget is spent paying salaries,” she said.

Hearing this, Senator Khalida Parveen said it is unfortunate that an institute working on culture does not have funds and said Lok Virsa should be given more funds.

The chairman of the committee, Senator Usman Kakar also said funds should be given to Lok Virsa.

He was annoyed that the secretary information had not attended a meeting for the last many times. An official of the ministry told him the minister had to go out of the country and that the secretary had gone to the airport with her as he wanted to discuss some matters with her on the way.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2017