Eminent arts and crafts expert and folklorist Khalid Javaid resumed his duties as the executive director of Lok Virsa (National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage) on Thursday (September 29, 2011).
Earlier, he had retired from Lok Virsa on 31 August 2011 and since then additional charge of the post of executive director was being held by Haji Ahmad Malik, joint secretary (information department). Malik handed over the charge to Khalid Javaid on his reappointment in the presence of senior officials of Lok Virsa at a simple ceremony held here.
According to a notification issued by the Establishment Division and endorsed by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting on 29 September 2011, Khalid Javaid has been reappointed as the Lok Virsa executive director on contract basis for a period of two years with immediate effect.
Khalid Javaid is a pioneering officer of Lok Virsa having a vast experience of over 36 years.
During his previous stint at Lok Virsa, he contributed significantly towards the collection, documentation and preservation of Pakistan’s traditional culture with special reference to the promotion the arts and crafts heritage in the country.
His landmark achievements include revival of the annual Folk Festival of Pakistan (popularly called as Lok Mela), launching of a series of regional folk festivals on the pattern of Lok Mela across the country, completion of the first thematic museum on Pakistan’s history, birth and development known as Pakistan Monument Museum at Islamabad, expansion of the National Heritage Museum at Islamabad with all required facilities and paraphernalia including museum storage and conservation laboratory, establishment of the National Database of Cultural Assets at Lok Virsa in collaboration with UNESCO, publication of the first joint book on “Norwegian and Pakistani Children Folk Games & Field plays” and two books on the life and works of eminent poet and cultural personality Faiz Ahmad Faiz (under progress) marking his centennial celebrations.
