HYDERABAD, May 3: Noted scholars and experts decided in a meeting on Thursday to initiate work on the establishment of a Music Chair under the aegis of the Institute of Sindhology of the University of Sindh to preserve and promote Sindhi music.

Dr N. A. Baloch, an expert on Sindhi music and literature who had conceived the idea of a music chair, said at the meeting Sindhi music was fast losing its importance due to lack of interest among community. Sindhi music had a unique identity and a long history stretching over 300 years, he added.

Dr Baloch said that Sindhi musicians and experts of different musical instruments were being discouraged and the age-old traditional instruments were becoming obsolete.

The Institute of Sindhology had a treasurer of Sindhi music collection as well as musical instruments and was well equipped to impart training and research in Sindhi music through education, he said and added the services of Sindhi musicians could also be made available for the purpose.

He advised the institute to obtain musical instruments from experts living in different parts of the province to preserve them and prepare a catalogue.

The meeting formed a committee headed by Dr N. A. Baloch to finalise the working paper and authorised him to co-opt other members on the committee.

The meeting assigned the responsibility to Prof. Zulfiqar Ali Qureshi to develop a working paper under the guidance of Dr Baloch and present it to the committee for final touches.

The meeting was presided over by Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mazharul Haq Siddiqui and attended by eminent scholars including Dr N. A. Baloch, former dean of Faculty of Arts Dr. Abdul Jabbar Junejo, Director Institute of Sindhology Shoukat Hussain Shoro, Arts Faculty Dean Dr. M. Qasim Bughio, Registrar Muhammad Saleh Rajar, Institute of Art and Design Director Dr Mohammad Ali Bhatti, Director Finance Faiz Muhammad Hingoro, music expert Prof. Zulfiqar Ali.