PESHAWAR, Dec 12: Nishtar Hall, the only auditorium with reasonable facilities in the provincial capital for promoting art activities on commercial lines , will get special funds from the provincial government to cover losses caused by restrictions on staging plays and musical shows impose about two years ago.

Music shows, stage dramas and other entertainment activities have not been allowed in the Nishtar Hall since the Muttahida Majlis-i- Amal came into power in the Frontier province following the 2002 general elections.

"We have not received anything in writing from the authorities concerned as far as restrictions on entertainment activities are concerned, rather we stopped all such shows on our own in fulfilment of the MMA government's agenda," said an official of the Nishtar Hall's administration.

Though Peshawar-based circles involved in private productions reject the official stand and say that the restrictions have been imposed by the top MMA leadership, both private and public sector representatives acknowledge that the situation has caused in financial problems to the Nishtar Hall's administration.

The hall, with a capacity of around 500 was inaugurated in 1988. It was taken over by the provincial government in 1992. "Before the entertainment activities were brought to a halt the administration was self-sufficient in meeting expenditures," said an official source.

The source said the hall was now used only for arranging declamation contests, Naat Khawanis and in some cases seminars are also organized by certain non-governmental organizations.

The sources said that the finance department had agreed to release between Rs1 million and Rs1.5 million to take care of the monthly salary bill for next eight to nine months of the hall's staff.

"The monthly salary bill comes to around Rs90,000 hence special funds promised would help the administration to keep paying salaries in time even if the ban remains in place for some more time," said the official.

The provincial government's restrictions on holding trade and industrial exhibitions in fulfilment of a demand by local trade and business circles have also been blamed for the increasing financial loss being experienced by the Nishtar Hall's administration.

The sources said that after the ban was imposed on entertainment activities the hall's administration started giving the open air car park on rent for trade fairs. Though the policy helped the administration in fetching considerable amount to meet the hall's monetary requirements, trade and business circles lodged a strong protest with the provincial government against the hall's administration's policy.