PESHAWAR, March 4:  The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information and Culture Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain has said an art academy is being established near the Nishtar Hall in Peshawar to impart training to young artists. He said problems of artists and singers would be solved on priority basis.

He was speaking as the chief guest to a gathering organised by the Culture Journalists Forum (CJF) and the Bacha Khan Education Foundation (BEF) at the Peshawar Press Club the other day to celebrate the World Music Freedom Day.

The minister called upon the artistes and singers to get united at one platform and work for the promotion of cultural activities in the province. He said his government had extended financial support to 80 senior artistes and singers and had also provided conducive environment to them to display their arts.

“A state of the art academy is being constructed near the Nishtar Hall where young aspiring artistes will get training by senior artistes to polish their talent.

Mr Iftikhar said a bill on a solid cultural policy would be tabled in the provincial assembly in the light of suggestions and proposals of all the stakeholders, including poets, writers, intellectuals and civil society members.

Dr Khadim Hussain, Director, Bacha Khan Education Foundation (BEF), said Pashto music enjoyed a unique flavour and had always been a symbol of refine aspect of Pakhtuns’ identity.

Former PTV producer and music expert Shaukat Ali Khan, music composer Ustad Nazir Gul and others also spoke on the occasion.

Ihtesham Toru, president CJF, demanded of the culture minister to work out a culture policy, establish a censorship board and take practical steps for ameliorating the plight of the artists and singers.