PESHAWAR: A delegation of artists called on officials of the provincial government here on Monday to express concern over alleged irregularities and ‘lack of transparency’ in organising the much-hyped “Hunar Mela”.

The delegation comprised respected voices from artistic fraternity including Arshad Hussain, Tariq Jamal, Naushaba Bibi, Khalid Khattak and Zulfiqar Qureshi from drama and theatre; Dr Rashid Ahmad Khan from music; Sajid Orakzai from painting; and Ashfaq Toru from direction.

They represented leading bodies such as Hunri Tolna, Artists Action Foundation, Pakistan Directors, Producers, Writers and Artists Association, Mafkooa research organisation, Pakistan Culture, Tourism and Arts Organisation and Funkaar Ittehad.

Meeting senior officials, including the secretary of culture, director general of culture and tourism, and representatives of chief minister at the Chief Minister’s House, the artists presented a detailed account of their grievances.

They said that outsourcing cultural initiatives to private contractors and companies, without taking artists into confidence, was not only undermining the rights and livelihood of local talents but was also raising serious doubts about the judicious use of public money.

“In the historic land of Khushal Khan Khattak and Rehman Baba, culture should not be reduced to a commercial contract,” a senior member of the delegation remarked. The artists maintained that authentic promotion of Pakhtun arts and heritage required active and central role of artists rather than distant commercial entities, seeking profit.

Officials gave the delegation a patient hearing and sought time till Tuesday to thoroughly examine the matter. They assured the artists that “Hunar Mela” would be immediately halted, their concerns would be addressed seriously and no further course of action would be taken until those issues were resolved to the satisfaction of artistic community.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2026