LAHORE, Dec 18: The Punjab-Jiangsu Cultural Centre -- the one of its kind in Pakistan -- is going to get independent status and paraphernalia.

It was established by the provincial information department on the premises of the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture in 2009.

Right now it has no status and administrative setup and the officials deputed to run it do not even have stationery for want of funds.

Officials told Dawn on Tuesday that after finding the initiative fruitful, the Planning and Development Board had agreed to give it an independent status, administration, funds and perhaps premises.

Right now, they added, rules of business were being amended and service rules for the staff framed.

The objectives of the centre are to facilitate people of Punjab in learning the Chinese language, arrange Chinese cooking and traditional painting classes, undertake cultural exchange programmes, arrange exhibitions of paintings, visits of youth to China, and establish a small art gallery and museum.

The project was started for one year with a budget of Rs18.8 million but extended for another two years.