Khyber Pakhtunkhwa artists ,performers are our valued assets

Frontier Post

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government will allocate 4 percent of GDP for education sector in the next budget which in the past, has never exceeded two percent. This was stated by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Culture and Information, Mian Iftikhar Hussain while addressing the cheque distribution ceremony amongst the local artists at Nishtar Hall Peshawar, the other day. Secretary Culture Azmat Hanif Orakzai was also present on the occasion. Those who received cheques of Rs. One lac each was Abdul Wahab Dasti, Mumtaz Ali Shah, Salahuddin, and Widow of Rafiqe Shanwari Safia Rani, Noshaba and Maazullah Nigar. The minister said that all our artists were highly respectable for us and they were our precious assets. The government would do all its best to ameliorate their lot, he added. He said that they love their artists from the core of their heart and the money so provided to them was nothing but a token of recognition of their service. He regretted, in the past, our artists were humiliated and they were compelled to flee the country adding that even some decided to abandon their jobs. Mian Iftikhar continued, after coming into power, the government not only revived cultural activities but also give Rs. One million to Pushto legend singer Khial Muhammad with a view to convey a message that we love our artists and no one could harm our culture. He furthered that they have arranged special programs in honour of their living, passed and legendary people of this region. He said that they were conducting cultural programs to encourage the people and discourage the terrorists. The minister mainted that Islam is the only relgion of the world that accept modernism and not a hurdle in the way of the culture. That is why it rapidly spread and continue to spread in the world, he concluded.