KARACHI, July 24: Sindh Culture and Tourism Department has approved Rs1.01 million as honorarium for 209 folk artistes, poets and writers of the province.

According to a handout issued here on Sunday, the honorarium was approved in a meeting, presided over by Sindh Culture and Tourism Minister Shabbir Qaimkhani. Among others, Information Secretary Mehtab Akbar Rashidi and Director-General Culture N.D. Jataoi attended the meeting.

A total amount of Rs421,334 has been approved for artists, writers and poets of Hyderabad; Rs10,000 for Sanghar; Rs20,000 for Badin; Rs75,000 for Khairpur; Rs43,500 for Dadu; Rs27,000 for Sukkur; Rs42,000 for Jabcobabad; Rs36,000 for Larkana; Rs82,000 for Tharparkar; Rs36,000 for Nawabshah; Rs40,000 for Thatta; Rs21,000 for Nousheroferoz; and Rs6,000 for artists of Shikarpur during the year 2005-6.

It was also decided that a food festival would be organized on Aug 16 in which traditional food of Sindh would be presented while renowned artists from India would also be invited to participate in the event.—APP