ISLAMABAD: Minister for Infor­mation and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz said on Friday that Pakistan was achieved after unprecedented sacrifices rendered by the Muslims of the subcontinent and the aim of a separate homeland was to preserve Muslim heritage, culture and identity.

Speaking during an award distribution ceremony organised by the Press Information Department (PID) in honour of writers and artists, he said recognition of their contribution and services was vital.

The minister said during past over seven decades many ups and downs were witnessed by society. He said that unfortunately literature, poetry, arts and culture and sports had witnessed decline.

Mr Faraz said that many artists and producers strived hard and were part of the past glory of Radio Pakistan, PTV and performing arts, but now that enthusiasm and spirit was lacking in all fields and politics was no exception.

He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan was his inspiration for joining politics to bring a change in the country as the past political leadership had failed to deliver. The minister said that the first two years of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government were difficult due to problems inherited by it and the outbreak of coronavirus in the country. However, he expressed the satisfaction that with the grace of Allah Almighty and due to the strategy of the government, the situation in Pakistan was far better than many countries. He said that now difficult time was over and good time was round the corner.

The minister said it was the responsibility of all segments of society to work hard to hand over a better Pakistan to the next generation. He said that the Inde­pendence Day was a good occasion to reiterate the commitment for taking all possible measures to make Paki­stan a developed and prosperous welfare state as envisioned by its founders.

The information minister said that the present leadership of the country was determined to ensure the rule of law and merit in the country and make it a modern Islamic welfare state. He said that on this day the nation should feel for Kashmiris who were facing worst state terrorism by fascist Modi regime of India.

He requested senior artists and writers to train the new generation in their respective fields.

Earlier, Secretary of Information and Broadcasting Akbar Hussain Durrani in his speech said the fields of literature, art and culture had witnessed a decline during the past few decades which was a cause of concern. He said that the young generation had the technology in their hands, but did not have teachers to guide it. He said that the importance of freedom was realised by people living in occupied areas, like Kashmiris and Palestinians.

He said once Pakistani radio and television dramas had great viewership due to their class, but now the standard had declined and same was the situation in the field of literature. These fields needed to be revived.

He said that artists and writers who were being given awards were role model for their successors.

Principal Information Officer Sheh­era Shahid welcomed artists, writers and other guests.

Those who were given awards included senior journalists Ziaur Rehman Kashmiri and Nisar Ahmed Shakir, newscaster Kanwal Naseer, artists Nighat Aman, Laila Zuberi, Ayub Khoso, Taj Buledi, Rabia Tabbasum, Sajad Kishwar and Raees Ahmed, poet Javed Ahmed and senior PTV producer Khwaja Najmul Hassan.

Besides Managing Director of the Associated Press of Pakistan Tariq Mehmood and Director General of Radio Pakistan Ambreen Jan, senior officials of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting were also present on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2020