HYDERABAD: The Ustad Muhammad Juman Music Gallery at Sindh Museum, Hyderabad, was inaugurated by Sindh culture minister Sassui Palijo on Tuesday, on the occasion of the Sindhi folk singer’s 23rd death anniversary.

Addressing the gathering on this occasion, she paid tribute to Ustad Juman, saying that the culture department had set up the music gallery in his name to make the young generation aware of his art. She said that Ustad Juman was not only an excellent vocalist but was also a good trainer who had produced many renowned vocalists of Sindh. Her department considered artists to be the ambassadors of Sindh and had also established an endowment fund for their welfare, she added.

The minister said that the Sindh culture department was planning to establish the International Heritage Institute in Karachi where art galleries would be set up along with separate sections for culture, history and music from various countries and its foundation stone would be laid on Feb 1.

There were also plans to set up the Islamic and Freedom Fighters’ Gallery in Karachi, she added.

She said that the culture department had set up Libraries in several cities including Pir jo Goth, Ghotki, Daharki, Khuhra Sharif, Makli and Matiari, adding that her department had also conceived various other cultural, literary and archaeological projects which would be completed in the next term of the Pakistan People’s Party. Priority was given to research work to discover historical facts regarding the province, she added.

Other officials including Sindh culture secretary Abdul Aziz Uqaili and director-general culture Manjhi Khan also delivered speeches, acknowledging the services of Ustad Muhammad Juman and lauding the efforts of culture department for establishment of Ustad Muhammad Juman Music Gallery.