PESHAWAR: A group of artists here on Wednesday urged the provincial government to take concrete steps for improving their condition otherwise they would stage a protest in Islamabad for acceptance of their demands.

The artists including singers, musicians and actors held a meeting called by their action committee comprising Sardar Yousafzai, Dr Niaz Ali, Zulfiqar Qureshi and others.

Speaking on the occasion, Sardar Yousafzai, a noted folk singer from Malakand, said that despite assurances from government officials, no step was taken yet for the welfare of artists.

He added that many senior artists were bedridden while others were suffering the brunt of poverty and Covid-19 lockdown.

“Where should we walk up to and who would listen to our cries? Should we break our musical instruments,” questioned Mr Yousafzai. He said that artists had no option but to quit their profession for good because culture department seemed to have no plan for ameliorating their plight.

“We have walked up to chief minister and officials of culture directorate but all in vain as artists are literally starving because the lone city theatre, Nishtar Hall, has been shut since long, no literary or cultural event has been organised to engage the artists.

Group threatens to stage protest in Islamabad

The state-run radio and TV also have deprived artists of their rights to perform to earn livelihood to feed their families,” said the folk artist.

Mr Yousafzai said that artists had forwarded the list of their demands to the officials concerned and expected a due response from them.

He said that they would stage protest in Islamabad if their demands were not met.

The demands included provision of monthly stipend, especially to elderly artists and folk singers, free education, health card and handing over of Nishtar Hall to artists’ community.

Dr Niaz Ali, popular TV artist, said that around 2,000 artists were in deep financial constraints and government had turned a deaf ear to their cries.

Waseema Khan, a senior TV artist, on the occasion said that condition of female artists was the worst and culture department failed to provide any relief to them.

Senior TV actor Javed Babar, Batin Farooqi, Musrat Malik and Hameedullah Jan also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2020