STAFF REPORTER
PESHAWAR : The artist community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is once again awaiting the resolution of its longstanding problems. Chairman Artists Action Foundation Dr Niaz Ali has urged the provincial government and the Culture Department to move beyond assurances and promises and take immediate practical steps to address the genuine issues faced by artists.
Dr Niaz Ali said that artists are ambassadors of the province’s cultural identity, yet they have been facing various difficulties for a long time. Although the government and Culture Department have repeatedly assured them that their problems would be resolved, it is now essential to translate these assurances into concrete measures and formulate a clear and effective policy for the welfare of artists.
He said that, within the available budget, effective measures should be taken for the welfare of artists so that the benefits actually reach the artist community. He stressed that an effective strategy was urgently needed to provide artists with dignified employment, financial assistance and other basic facilities.
The Chairman of the Artists Action Foundation said that artists of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had devoted their lives to promoting the region’s culture and arts. Ignoring their problems, he said, could adversely affect the province’s cultural heritage. He urged the government to address artists’ concerns on a priority basis and take decisive measures to end the frustration prevailing among the artist community.
He further stated that the Artists Action Foundation would continue to raise its voice for the rights and welfare of artists and would intensify its engagement with the relevant authorities to ensure that their legitimate demands were addressed.
