LAHORE: The Punjab Council of the Arts has announced a line-up of cultural programmes and a series of events to be organised across the province during the coming winter and spring seasons.

The initiative is designed to promote art, literature, music, and cultural heritage while also providing a platform to emerging as well as established artistes.

According to PCA Executive Director Muhammad Athar Masood, the upcoming events would include musical evenings, theatrical performances, literary sittings, mushairas, art exhibitions and cultural festivals. These programmes aimed at not only celebrating the rich traditions of Punjab but encouraging youth participation in creative and performing arts.

With a special focus on south Punjab, Athar Masood said, the PCA would collaborate with divisional and district arts councils in Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan to present a series of events, including the Cholistan Festival, Desert Youth Festival, Sand and Sky Women Festival, Saraiki Culture Festival, Saraiki Aman Mushaira, Ameer Khusro Festival and the Rohi Festival.

Highlighting the region’s centuries-old traditions of music, poetry, and crafts, these events would help preserve heritage while opening new opportunities for young artists, he said.

Mr Masood added that in north Punjab, preparations were underway for the Punjab Pavilion at Lok Virsa 2025 in Rawalpindi, organised in partnership with the National Institute of Folk & Traditional Heritage.

“The pavilion is expected to once again become a major attraction, showcasing folk crafts, traditional attire, pottery, woodwork, embroidery, and live performances including folk music, dhol beats, and Sufi kalam, offering visitors a lively glimpse into Punjab’s cultural identity,” he added.

The Central Punjab will see a vibrant calendar of events through its divisional arts councils in Faisalabad, Sargodha, Gujranwala and Sahiwal, including the Harappa Festival, Faisalabad Literary Festival, Inter-University Drama Festival, Visual Art Exhibitions, Baba Farid Cultural Festival, Sahiwal International Literary Conference, Citrus Festival Sargodha and the Folk Music & Theatre Festival in Gujranwala.

The executive director emphasized the PCA’s commitment to provide platforms for local artists, poets and writers to showcase their creativity

The detailed schedule of events would be released soon, inviting citizens from all walks of life to participate and celebrate the vibrant cultural spirit of Punjab, the executive director added.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2025