Lok Virsa facing a loss of millions

Lok Virsa, the endeavor to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of Pakistan, is facing a loss of millions of rupees due to illegal awarding of 15 contracts. The source of these losses mostly accrue from various contracts given to a private firm, Cosmos Productions (Pvt) Limited. Cosmos Productions was made by late actor, director and bureaucrat Rauf Khalid, husband of PPP Senator Rubina Khalid. Senator Rubina Khalid, after the demise of Rauf Khalid took charge of the company and ran its affairs. Presently it is under the ownership of their children Hassan Khalid and Sidra Khalid. It should be kept in mind that Rubina has recently transferred the title of ownership to her children.

The official documents available with Pakistan Today shed light on the findings of investigative committee of Ministry of Information, Culture and Heritage, Auditor General of Pakistan, and Public Accounts Committee. The findings of these committees reveal that the process of awarding the several contracts to Cosmos Productions was flawed, erroneous and from the very onset steered from favoritism. The way the contract was made and carried out was neither financially appropriate nor within the bounds of legality. Uxi Mufti, the then executive director of Lok Virsa, entered into agreements without lawful authority. Furthermore, no approval was sought from a competent forum in this regard.

On a condition of anonymity, sources at Lok Virsa confided in Pakistan Today that COSMOS has been continuously plundering Lok Virsa since 2004. The silence on part of Lok Virsa’s management and concerned ministry has made COSMOS more strong and sturdy in its activities.

Furthermore, the rental agreement for COMSOS office and National Institute of Cultural Studies (NICS) was signed by a deputy director of Lok Virsa, who was neither competent to sign nor has any role to play in the execution of the agreement. The Board of Governor, the competent authority to seal the agreement, was ignored entirely during the whole process.

COSMOS also took Virsa Café illegally on rent for just Rs 40,000 per month approximately. In a recent development, Virsa Café has passed on the possession of the cafe to Hang Chang in return of Rs 300,000 per month. It is pertinent to mention here that all the utility bills will be paid by the Lok Virsa, however, COSMOS will be receiving all the utility bills from the Chinese company as well.

The original intention behind awarding of the contract to COSMOS was to set up a collage of arts and crafts as public private partnership. However, the deal went awry when the company set up a commercial venture, leaving out the original plan of teaching folk music, traditional crafts, storytelling and other study of folk cultures. Now, it has become a dedicated vocational training center for hotel management. TV production, interior design, graphic design and photography among many other modern day arts.

“Despite repeated complaints the management over the years neither took an action against COSMOS nor took back Lok Virsa’s land,” confided a senior officer representative of Lok Virsa staff association.

The land was originally acquired under false pretenses of making a museum cafeteria for Lok Virsa. It is presently being used as the site for practical training of hotel management and media production, shunning the original intention of cementing folklore, popularising arts and crafts.  NICS has its whole focus on teaching of fashion designing, photography, and video making.

Since its inception, not a single rupee has been paid to Lok Virsa for the five kanal land on which NICS is located. Originally, the land was acquired on a profit sharing basis.

The Institute is called National Institute of Cultural Studies (NICS) the very name is deceptive and misleading, the word ‘National’ is included in order to justify government’s free land. In reality, it is run fully on a commercial basis. It charges exuberant fees and is bagging huge money from donors. The subjects taught there have no relation with culture or folklore whatsoever.

COSMOS continuously claims that year in and year out they dealt with losses. If this is the case, then one is bound to ask the question: if they were accruing losses then why did COSMOS insist on continuing to run the institute?

Despite several inquiries, conducted by various departments, they have concluded that these contracts are dubious and should be terminated. However, the contract remains intact and COSMOS continues to use the government land for private and commercial use. The chief bureau to look into such matters, NAB, is yet to grace COSMOS and Lok Virsa with its attention.

Despite repeated tries to contact authorities at Lok Virsa and COSMOS, no reply could be sought on the concerned issue.