LAHORE, April 20: The Punjab Arts Council’s 16-member cultural troupe and its instruments are ‘rusting’ without any performance abroad.

The only activity for the group is to daily rehearse at the Bagh-i-Jinnah open air theatre from 10am to 1pm. Performances at national events or receptions to foreign dignitaries are rare these days.

The troupe was constituted at the time of the creation of the provincial arts council in 1975. It had 24 members, including six women.

The troupe performed in various countries in the Middle East, China and Egypt, portraying Pakistani culture. Inter-provincial functions were added opportunities for the performers to show their talent and represent the Punjab.

According to some members, the troupe suffered a major blow during the Zia government when it was disbanded. Nevertheless, it kept working on the condition that it would shed all the women artistes.

Subsequently, some of the female performers, including Mehwish, Nazia Hafeez and Roshan Ara, left for television or film. After 1980, the troupe did not go abroad.

The troupe members told Dawn that they daily came to the Bagh-i-Jinnah to earn their partly salaries that range between Rs1,000 and Rs2,200 a month. Only few old members like composer Muhammad Ali and singer Siddique have the privilege of drawing the highest salary of Rs2,200.

Officials said the instruments of these artistes were wearing rust without any performance abroad. “The artistes rehearse every day, but we do not have funds to even repair a dholak damaged during a performance at the recently held Jashn-i-Baharan,” they said.

They added that the artistes wore worn-out costumes, as there were no funds to get them new dresses.