HARIPUR, Aug 29: A cultural festival was held in Qutba village in the Bareela union council on Sunday to create awareness in the rural communities about their social, political, economic and legal rights.

The festival was organized by the Rural Development Project (RDP), Haripur, and representatives of the United Nations Development Programme, the Swiss Development Corporation and other non-government organizations attended it.

Handicrafts made by local women were put on display. A theatre show based on the theme of poverty and its causes and social, political and legal rights was presented by the Kook Resource Centre, Haripur. The artistes performed skits, folk dance and songs.

A known singer of the Hazara region, Tariq Ayub, and flute master Abid performed at a music show. Syed Ibrar Hussain Shah and Malik Saqib of the Allaqai Taraqiati Foundation, Bareela, presented reports of their NGOs.

Certificates were distributed among 25 men and 25 women members of different village-based organizations belonging to five union councils who participated in an 18-month long training course in capacity building, community mobilization, organizational skills, financial management, conflict resolution, proposal writing and other skills.