KARACHI, June 6: The Sindh Minister for Culture and Tourism, Shabbir Qaimkhani, on Monday chaired an important meeting to review arrangements for the three-day golden jubilee urs celebrations of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai. The minister said the three-day celebrations would be held from June 24 to 26 in a befitting manner with formal inauguration by the Sindh governor while the chief minister will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony.

He said the main highlights of the celebrations would include a conference on Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai at the Bhit Shah Cultural Centre and establishment of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai Music Academy where training would be imparted in Bhitai’s sufi poetry besides commencement of regular music classes.

Other programmes will include a golden jubilee conference, cultural drama and colourful musical evening in which prominent artists Abida Parveen, Sohrab Fakir, Jumman Shah Fakir, Khan Mohammed Fakir and others will perform.

Mr Qaimkhani said that on the occasion, an amount of Rs1.3 million would be distributed among the artists.

This amount will include Rs200,000 for noted poet and scholar Niaz Hussain Humayuni, Rs200,000 to be given to the son and daughter of late Mai Bhagi, Rs100,000 to the son and brother of late Allan Fakir, Rs100,000 to Sohrab Fakir, Rs500,000 to Abida Parveen as Chief Minister’s Award and Rs200,000 for the heirs of late director culture Abdul Razaq Memon.

The minister directed the officials to ensure that all possible facilities were provided to the people participating in the urs. — APP