Peshawar Artisan Training School, academy on the anvil.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Culture and Information, Mian Iftikhar Hussein, has said that the provincial government had launched a traditional loan scheme for the artists and



of this province so as to revive our old and indigenous art and culture which was on the verge of collapse due to our negligence.The said scheme in the 1st phase would be introduced in Peshawar and Malakand Divisions and would gradually be extended to the entire province, he added.He was chairing a meeting regarding traditional loan scheme at Peshawar. Besides others, the meeting was also attended by the Secretary Culture and Information, Azmat Hanif Orakzai, Provincial Chief Executive SMEDA, Javed Iqbal Khattak and Director Culture, Pervez Khan.



The meeting thoroughly debated upon the ways and means for issue of loans besides discussing its different aspects. The meeting was informed that pattern of Bacha Khan Khpal Rozgar Scheme would be adopted for the said scheme. The Chief Executive SMEDA on this occasion presented viable and useful suggestions and assured his full support in this regard.The culture minister maintained that the government was mulling to establish academy to be named Artisan Training School where besides giving training work on up gradation of old arts and skill would also be made.Similarly, those completing training in said school would be given grants so as they could earn their livelihood in a dignified manner, he continued.Mian Iftikhar Hussein further said that display area adjacent to the said institute would also be reserved when the artists exhibit their art and get access to the national as well as international market.He added that the eligible arts and skills would be officially notified and only the eligible artists could get the loans. He clarified that the artists would not be restricted to loans but possible help would also be extended to them.The Minister asserted that the nations, loosing their cultural values and traditions cease to exist, therefore, we would revive our old and indigenous culture and eradicate the menace of terrorism and militancy and other social evils by promoting our culture and traditions, he concluded.