PESHAWAR: Speakers at an event held at Bacha Khan Markaz here the other day termed artists’ community true representative of a pluralistic and just society and their services should be recognised duly.

Unfortunately, artists and musicians didn’t get due status in our society and therefore their financial position remained pathetic due to lack of cultural activities, they said.

A free Eid food packages distribution ceremony was arranged under the auspices of Bacha Khan Patient’s Welfare Organisation (BKPWO) and Malgari Doctoran at Bacha Khan Markaz here.

Over 100 deserving artists, musicians and their families were given free Eid food packages comprising 10kg flour, 5kg sugar, one kg beans, a packet of spices and vermicelli for the upcoming Eid festival.

ANP vows to stand with artists through thick and thin

Roman Gul, an Afghan folk artist, told Dawn that he and his several colleagues couldn’t earn enough to support their families while Meena Arshad, a local female artist, remarked had the doors of Nishtar Hall opened on them, they could earn a decent livelihood.

Mian Iftikhar Hussain, general secretary of Awami National Party, on the occasion pointed out that the role of artists and musicians in promoting human values in the society was evident and their status should be upheld at all costs. Artists were ambassadors of peace, and goodwill in a pluralistic and just society, he added.

Mr Hussain stated that the doors of Nishtar Hall were open in his tenure to all kinds of literary and cultural activities while deserving artists and performers were helped out against the threat of militants, but, unfortunately, today artist’s community was forced to live in penury.

He regretted that artists and musicians were being degraded rather threatened for their contribution to the society and they never got their due status, while in other societies, artists ran charity projects. In our country artists were being forced to beg, he added.

My party would always stand by the artist’s community through thick and thin, assured the ANP leader.

Rashid Ahmad Khan, director of Angaze Music Production and chief of Artist’s Welfare Society (AWS), on behalf of Bacha Khan Markaz announced that folk singers and artists would be provided an opportunity to record their music pieces free of cost.

Dr Mohammad Shahzad, chairman BKPWO, said that his organisation had launched free of cost medical treatment of artists and performers to lessen their financial burden. Dr Haider Ali Khan chief of Malgari Doctran, Dr Sohaib Farrukh, Dr Nawaz Khalil and Dr Mujeeb also addressed the event.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2024