Though Pakistan is a nation where only about 2 million of 180 million people pay income tax but it is one of the largest countries in terms of charity donations, where artists’ community seems ahead of other community members for supporting the victims of natural disasters across the country. For the welfare of internally displaced persons (IDPs), the students of fine arts from Foundation University (FU) on Wednesday organised an art exhibition here at Lok Virsa Heritage Museum under the aegis of Universal Women Children Art Therapy Association (UWCATA), Pakistan Sweet Home, a charity project of Pakistan Bait-ul-Maal and Lok Virsa. The opening ceremony was performed by Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal Managing Director (MD) Zumurud Khan as chief guest under whom Pakistan Sweet Home is functioning.
While addressing to the participants, Zumurud Khan highly appreciated the efforts of FU students for arranging such an exhibition for the welfare of underprivileged people of the calamity-hit areas of the country. He also commended Lok Virsa for its continuous support to PBM in holding its activities at the cultural surrounding of Shakarparian. Talking to this scribe, Lok Virsa Chief Executive Khalid Javaid said: “Lok Virsa follows a policy of involving all talented Pakistani citizens, particularly the youth in implementing its policies and programmes. Our focus is youth community which is the future of our country. They have a great potential which needs to be polished and projected at national level.” He invited students to make best use of Lok Virsa’s facilities for their educational requirements.
He specially mentioned Lok Virsa’s heritage library describing it as an authentic creation in Pakistan with high concentration of books and journals pertaining to folklore, ethnology, cultural anthropology, art history and crafts. The numerous manuscripts, originals reports, field surveys and research monographs on Pakistani culture are accessible to anyone, he maintained. He assured the participants that efforts of his institution aiming to benefit younger generation will continue in future as well. The exhibition featured more than 100 art works. Some 50 students participated in the exhibition by way of displaying their works. The exhibition will remain on display till March 3 at Lok Virsa premises.
The students with various themes and medium of art, put on display a number of landscape paintings, colourful flowers, wide range of animals and birds, fruits and vegetables, and architectural ancient buildings of Mughal era.
Universal Women Children Art Therapy Association (UWCATA) has been holding therapy workshops in Islamabad for the flood and war affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province for the last three years, with a view to give children a new hope for life. Talking to Pakistan Today, Samina Jamshed, the curator of exhibition and an artist of repute, who has been conducting a string of art therapy for rehabilitation of youngsters, said the revenue of this exhibition will obviously help out settling the people of natural calamities. Jamshed said these workshops were aimed at bringing back smile on the faces of innocent souls traumatised by the militants’ activities and the ongoing operation against the militants in their area. Many of these children have witnessed casualties of their near and dear ones. “The workshops were also a part of series of activities already conducted for IDPs children, said young Jamshed, who is art director of Media Vision.
