RAWALPINDI, Dec 6: Artists are spokesmen of their culture and they provide healthy entertainment to the people and uplift their intellect level.

This was stated by Commissioner Rawalpindi Zahid Saeed while addressing the Life Time Achievement Awards distribution ceremony held at the Rawalpindi Arts Council auditorium in collaboration with the National Development Council (NDC) Sunday night.

As many as 150 artists from the fields of drama, music, fine arts, literature and set-designing having 25 years of contribution were given the awards.

Prominent among those who got the awards were painters Mansoor Rahi, Hajra Mansoor, Ghulam Rasul, Abass Shah, Saleem Abbas, Abdul Rasheed Butt, Khair Ahmed Khairi, Azeem Iqbal, Drama artists Ghazala Butt, Sajjad Kishwar, Hashim Butt, Masood Khawaja, Yar Mohammad, Anjum Habibi, Nighat Hasan, Kosar Jehan and Saleem Khawaja.

The commissioner said these artists were the pioneer of art in the region. “We are proud of their artistic skill,” he said, adding Rawalpindi Arts Council had been active enough to promote cultural activities and provide a platform to the artists and introduce their artwork.

Dr Jamal Nasir, Chairman Green Task Force, said such functions were essential for promoting the talent of artists.

It is necessary to say that these artists are the beautiful face of our culture that highlights their tremendous heritage not only in the country but also abroad, he said.

Khalid Zia Siddiqui of NDC said most of the artists in Potohar region got appreciation in their field not only at the national but also international level. “It is a matter of great sorrow that artists of this region have not been provided proper opportunities by TV channels,” he added.