PESHAWAR: Both senior and young artists have been urged to paly their effective role in promoting the country’s soft image through their positive art and cultural activities.

The call came at the 28th annual prize distribution ceremony organised here on Friday by the Bank of Khyber in collaboration with Abasin Arts Council.

Artists were given shields and Rs50,000 cash prize each in four categories, including music, literature, drama and visual arts, while five young rising artists also received consolation cash prize of Rs10,000 each for their contributions in their respective fields.

Young merging artists, who grabbed commendation shields and consolation prizes, included Maryam Naveed, Laiba Usman, Aleena Khan, Ali Yousaf and Mohmmad Shahab in the fields of singing, painting, photography, calligraphy and literature.

Senior, young artists receive cash, shields at prize distribution ceremony

Noted artists, including Tariq Jamal, Wisal Khayal, Jamshid Ali Khan, Malik Arshad Hussain, Shazma Haleem, Naz Parveen and Arbab Fazal Rauf also showed up.

The speakers said KP artists had suffered a lot due to militancy and terrorism in the region over the past few decades and therefore, they deserved due attention and an encouraging environment so they could continue their activities.

Speaking on this occasion, Mohammad Ali Gulfaraz, managing director of BOK, who was the chief guest, said the bank in association with Abasin Arts Council conferred awards on senior and emerging artists with an objective to encourage local art and culture.

Noted Pashto folk singer and composer Master Ali Haider, Khalida Yasmeen, Dr Ghazala Misbakh and Khalid Rauf received awards and cash prizes for their immense contributions in the fields of folk music, drama, visual arts and literature.

Abdur Rauf Ruhaila, chief of Abasin Arts Council, Peshawar chapter, in his remarks pointed out that the council had been serving artists’ community for last over 70 years with the sole objective to help artists contribute to cultural diversity of the country.

“Our joint venture in arranging such events will continue to enable our senior and rising artists to promote the country’s soft image,” he added.

Senior artist and honorary secretary Abasin Arts Council, Jahanzeb Malik, noted Urdu poet Aziz Ejaz, Bushra Farrukh, Samina Qadir, Shaida Sardar, and Prof Nazeer Tabbasum also spoke.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2023