KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah administered the oath to the newly elected governing body of the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi on Monday.

On the occasion, the CM inaugurated five different venues of the Arts Council — Studio I, Studio II, Josh Malihabadi Library, Ahmed Parvez Art Gallery and Cafe D’ Art — and said that his government would continue to support the council.

The Arts Council Karachi has played a big role in restoring the splendour of the city, he said, adding that it was a pleasure to see a very big library named after renowned poet Josh Malihabadi.

Speaking on the occasion, Sindh Education and Culture Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah said that the Arts Council had become the cultural hub of Pakistan from where the message of love was being spread across and outside the country.

He said that Arts Councils were being established across Sindh on the pattern of the Arts Council Karachi.

Arts Council president Ahmad Shah appreciated CM Shah and the Pakistan Peoples Party for supporting the council that had become the biggest centre of art and culture in the country.

He announced that the Pakistan Literature Festival would be held in Lahore from Feb 10-12, after which it will be held in Gwadar and other cities of Pakistan.

Those who took oath as office-bearers are Ahmad Shah (president), Munawar Saeed (vice president), Ejaz Farooqui (secretary), Noor-ul-Huda Shah (joint secretary) and Qudsia Akbar (treasurer).

Members of the governing body are Ghazi Salahuddin, Dr Jafar Ahmed, Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Nusrat Haris, Amjad Siraj Memon, Akhlaq Ahmed, Syed Shehzad Raza Naqvi, Dr Huma Mir, Dr Ayoub Sheikh, Saadat Jafri, Farrukh Shahab, Chand Gul Shah, Najia Ashar, Ambareen Haseeb Ambar, Dr Qaiser Sajjad and Asjad Bukhari.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2023