LAHORE: The three-day Punjab Festival, organised by the Punjabi Parchar, a local organisation leading the fight for the status of the Punjabi language, successfully concluded on Sunday at the Punjab Institute of Languages and Culture (PILAC), Lahore.
The closing ceremony was presided over by Senator Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar, senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader as chief guest, Jamsheed Iqbal Cheema of PTI Punjab chapter and other prominent people from the politics and film industry.
While addressing the participants, Ch Sarwar said that abandoning the Punjabi language had been disastrous for the region. “All mother languages should be spoken on a priority basis, but our local culture should be kept alive simultaneously in the face of globalisation,” he added.
Sarwar was of the view that there was a need to begin the primary education in the Punjabi language in the province.
The PTI leader expressed that such festivals proved to be the best service for citizens amid fear and hostile environment. “Societies linked to their culture and traditions can retain their identity during the current era of competition,” he maintained.
The chief guest congratulated all the members participating in the festival and Punjabi Parchar for the grand success of the event.
The festival was inaugurated by PILAC Director Sughra Sadaf on Friday at Punjabi Complex. The final day of the cultural event lured in scores of citizens from various circles of society.
Locals and cultural campaigners fully participated and lauded the performers who mesmerised them with Dhamal, Jhoomer, comic skits and folk music.
On the occasion, awards were given to Arif Lohar, Baba Najmi, actor Rashid Mahmood, Dr Sughra Sadaf, Sabir Ali Sabir, Farhad Iqbal and Karamat Ali Mughal for their tremendous services for the promotion of Punjabi Language and culture.
