The week-long cultural activity with glimpses of national heritage here at Lok Virsa is attracting a large number of people mostly youngsters to get a taste of cultural heritage of different areas of the country.
The cultural programmes are organized under the theme “United We Stand” entitled “Pakistan Week” while the basic purpose of the week is to promote cultural values among the youth who are the future of the nation, said Khalid Javaid, executive director, Lok Virsa, while talking to APP on Wednesday. The activities have been planned with a focus on national heritage and integration and for this purpose, we have decorated the city through installation of 24 entrance gates on highways and busy roads, decoration and beautification of different chowks and roundabouts on various themes, Khalid Javaid said. For ensuring maximum participation of youth, the Lok Virsa sent invitations to almost all the educational institutions of twin cities before summer vacations to invite the youngsters along with their families for giving them cultural education through vibrant display. On the concluding day of the week, the Ministry of National Heritage and Integration will introduce ‘National Cultural Award’ for the first time to acknowledge the services of people connection to the field of drama, music, film, arts, crafts, dance and other categories, he said.
The other features of ‘Pakistan Week’ include exhibition of cultural heritage, art and craft bazaar, folkloric song and dance performances, cultural evenings, traditional floats representing all federating units, stage plays, on the spot activities and special attractions for families and children. Pakistan with its rich and varied heritage has a craft tradition of more than 9,000 years dating back to the Mehergarh civilization in Balochistan, when reveals the earliest evidence for pottery production. The Indus Valley civilization of Mohenjodaro in Sindh and Harappa civilization in Punjab (5,000 B.C.) indicates impressions of woven cloth production from cotton and wool.
