ISLAMABAD, Nov 19: The National Art Gallery project is an outcome of the relentless efforts made by almost all the directors-general of the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), including its first chief Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

According to a PNCA official, work on the National Art Gallery (NAG) building has been geared up and it is expected that the Gallery would be formally opened by June 2003.

He said it would be a great occasion when the National Art Gallery would be shifted to its own building for which almost all the former PNCA directors-general (DGs) had worked very hard. The DGs were of the view that keeping in view the importance of the Gallery for the cause of promotion of arts in the country, it should be shifted to a proper building having all facilities.

The PNCA official expressed the hope that the National Art Gallery would become a repository of art works by renowned painters, sculptures and other artists of the country.

All the former PNCA DGs deserve equal appreciation for their efforts, made in this direction, and to give credit to any one person will be an injustice with others.

The tenure of renowned poetess Kishwar Naheed as the PNCA director-general can be termed a prime period as it was during this time that the PNCA arranged painting exhibitions, musical and drama shows by leading theatre groups from Lahore, Karachi and other provincial capitals on regular basis. Her major contribution was that she managed to gather intellectuals and elite groups, including envoys from several countries, at PNCA’s programmes. Above all, she succeeded in getting the National Art Gallery project approved from the federal government.

Shahnaz Wazir Ali, former adviser to the then prime minister, laid the foundation stone of the National Art Gallery building near the Presidency in Islamabad.

Earlier, Kishwar Naheed’s predecessor Dr Khalid Saeed Butt had struggled for several years for the implementation of the project. During his tenure, the project to prepare architectural design of the NAG building was given to the renowned architect, Mr Naqvi.

However, the project was later handed over to a firm Suhail and Pasha Co. during the Benazir Bhutto’s regime. The new designers came out with an innovative architectural plan, which was prepared keeping in view the ambience of Islamabad and the cultural traditions of Pakistan. This design was finally approved by the ministry of culture.

Dr Khalid Saeed and renowned painter Ghulam Rasul then made frantic efforts to get work started on the project and asked the ministry to release funds for this purpose.

The present DG PNCA, Raja Changez Sultan, soon after taking charge, too started pursuing the higher authorities to release more funds for the project.

At present, the National Art Gallery has a collection of over 400 paintings, including the collection by Zubeida Agha. Credit must be given to the former DG, Dr Khalid Saeed, for acquiring a good collection of paintings. His main contribution lies in collecting murals and paintings by great painter Sadequain.

Raja Changez Sultan is also trying to acquire works by modern painters to be put on display at the NAG at the time of its formal opening.