ISLAMABAD, May 20: Glowing tributes were paid to Moin Akhtar, Mastana, Babbu Baral, Liaquat Soldier and Khayyam Sarhadi by different artists during a memorial reference held at PNCA on Friday.Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) organised the memorial reference titled ‘Yaad-e-Raftgaan’ at its auditorium. Tauqir Nasir, Kanwal Naseer, Batin Farooqi, Yar Muhammad, Tahir Siddiqui, William Pervaiz, Aftab Anwar and Hassan Abbas Raza while speaking on the occasion said that these artists were the asset of performing art world and lived in the hearts of the people.

“All of them were great performers having unique styles. They left behind unforgettable legacy as their deep-rooted influence on stage, TV and film could never be ignored. The vacuum created due to their loss would not be fulfilled for decades,” they said.The speakers demanded of the government to establish a fund on the pattern of benevolent fund for the welfare of the artists. “We request PNCA Director General Tauqir Nasir to take initiative and put forward this proposal,” they said.

PNCA Director General Tauqir Nasir while eulogising the illustrious career of these late artists said that like the five rivers, they continued to flow in a direction and benefited masses through their performance.

He said that a true artist remained in search for a role which could make the canvas of his life more vibrant and colourful. He said that he was committed to the welfare of the artists and would continue to fight for their cause.

“I remember when the PNCA invited Mehdi Hassan and Zubaida Khanum to acknowledge their meritorious services and they were overjoyed at this move,” he said and added that the artists must be acknowledged during their lives and not when they were in the graves.

He said that it was the responsibility of the government to work for the welfare of the artists who earned name not for them but for the country. “The artists should also come forward and set up a fund in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi and we should deposit our share in this fund,” he said.

PNCA DG admitted that the fund sanctioned for the welfare of the artists was not sufficient and requested the government to increase it every year.

Earlier, in order to refresh the memories of Moin Akhtar, Khayyam Sarhadi, Mastana, Babbu Baral and Liaquat Soldier, clippings of popular drama series and stage plays were shown on the big screen. The viewers also prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls on the occasion.