LAHORE, Nov 25: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said here on Thursday that art and culture could also be used as instruments for the promotion of peace, trust, love and harmony in the region.

He said music diplomacy could also play an effective role for the purpose. The prime minister said this at an exhibition of works of Saarc artists, Old Masters Young Voices, at the Alhamra Art Centre. Governor Khalid Maqbool, Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi and artists from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka were also present.

The prime minister flew into the city in the evening after participating in a marathon meeting of the National Security Council, the second of the controversial organization being opposed by all opposition parties.

Referring to the role of what he called music diplomacy, the prime minister said its significance could be assessed by the fact that he had exchanged with his Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh and former prime minister Vajpayee music CDs.

The prime minister said art was another name of creativity and it had no language or boundaries. It reflected the feelings of the artist, he said. Making an obvious reference to relations between Pakistan and India, the prime minister said the exchange of art could help overcome the trust deficit.

He was all praise for the art in Lahore, saying it reflected genius creativity. Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi also underscored the importance of art in a society and the role it could play in bringing various countries closer to one another.