PESHAWAR: The Culture Journalists Forum (CJF), in its meeting in Peshawar, on Sunday, appreciated the much awaited first-ever cultural policy of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) government.
The participants of the meeting expressed satisfaction over the draft and termed it a well-prepared document which they said will safeguard both arts and artists and will help in building a peaceful society.
The participants in the meeting chaired by Ihtisham Toru said that they had been urging the previous KPK governments since long to formulate a comprehensive cultural policy draft aimed at the promotion of a soft image of KPK’s culture and art.
“With it, more than two dozen native languages will get a new life and their speakers will be able to take pride in their own indigenous culture. Now we will not listen to the sad news of a small language spoken in Chitral, Kohistan and parts of Swat being wiped out from our soil,” the meeting said.
Participants of the meeting also admired KPK Chief Secretary Mohammad Azam Khan, who had initiated the work on drafting the KPK cultural policy.
The meeting pledged that CJF will continue to raise voice for the rights of artists and writers and will always support genuine policies of every KPK government that are aimed at providing relief to the poor masses including the community of artists.
Speaking on the occasion Ihtisham Toru said that the cultural policy draft should be implemented in its true letter and spirit.
“The KPK government has wasted too much time on the formulation of the cultural policy but any further delay in its implementation will not be fruitful. CJF took pains to raise the voice of artists and literati across the province for their genuine rights,” he commented.
“Stipend schemes for deserving artists and writers had already won hearts of many. We hope KPK culture department will provide assistance to promote art and artists in the militancy-hit province,” Toru said.
He also offered help to the KPK government for promoting local and indigenous art and culture.
