LAHORE, June 28: The Punjab Information and Culture Department will spend Rs34 million on the construction, repair and maintenance of six arts councils, Lahore Museum and institution of cultural heritage in Multan during the next fiscal year.

A meeting, presided over by Punjab Minister for Culture and Youth Affairs Chaudhry Shaukat Ali Bhatti on Friday, was informed that the construction work on Okara Arts Council was in final stage.

The meeting was informed that Rs20 million would be spent on the repair, maintenance and extension of arts councils of Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bagh-i-Jinnah in Lahore. Another Rs10 million would be spend on the extension of the Lahore Museum besides conservation and protection of cultural heritage in Multan.

The minister directed the officers to ensure the quality of construction work and also make suitable arrangements for the people visiting the arts councils.

He also directed to take stern action against the artistes involved in propagating obscenity in dramas, stage shows and theatres.

The minister instructed the executive director of the Punjab Arts Council to ensure the monitoring system of stage shows in the province.

He directed that a proper system of communication about the status of theatres and dramas must be strengthened and warned that stern action be taken against the violators.—APP