NAC, CPEC Cultural Caravan festival concluding Monday

ISLAMABAD: The grand cultural events, National Artists Convention (NAC) and China-Pakistan-Economic-Corridor (CPEC) Cultural Caravan Festival, organized by the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage concludes here on Monday.

The two-day CPEC Cultural Caravan festival included visual arts and photography exhibitions, film screenings, music, dance performances, a fashion and textile show, book launch, seminar, handicrafts display and cultural cuisine from China and Pakistan.

The festival and seminar were aimed to deliberate on the measures of policy and regulatory framework to be implemented in order to benefit from the opportunities presented by the creative economy and culture in general and to focus on the potential bilateral trade and cooperation in the cultural exchange between China and Pakistan.

PNCA Director General Syed Jamal Shah said that the cultural excursion under the title Cultural Caravan 2017-18 was a unique initiative of PNCA, which was composed of a diverse group of Pakistani and Chinese artists, musicians, dancers, photographers, anthropologists, writers and filmmakers.

This Caravan travelled from Xi’an, China to Gawadar, Pakistan, documenting and reflecting upon the land, life and people along the CPEC during the month of November.

Talking about NAC, he said that it is a moot of renowned Pakistani artists from all fields to discuss the validity of art and culture and to ponder upon the challenges faced by artists.

He said that NAC is an initiative of the PNCA to understand various issues and problems confronting the artists’ community, which as a consequence are adversely affecting the cultural environment of the society at large.

He said that the current and counter currents threatening culture in conditions mostly hostile towards creative expression, have raised many problems but solved a few.

Syed Jamal Shah said that one-step forward two-steps-backwards has been the norm of the cultural movement for several decades and the trend does not seem to let up, adding that in such conditions, both the art and the artist suffer immensely.

He said that leading artists, musicians, filmmakers, and producers were present on a common platform attending the three-day convention to discuss cultural issues and finalize recommendations for submissions and to take the necessary steps to alleviate the condition of the artists.

He stated that five thematic discussion groups would come up with recommendations that would be presented to the Pakistani prime minister for its approval induction into the government’s development programme.

Renowned actor and film producer, Qavi Khan highly appreciated the government for inviting artists from across the country to discuss their issues and finalize recommendations for resolving them.

Film star, Mustafa Qureshi also lauded the government for inviting artists from across the country for the convention.

The leading artist’s participating in the three-day convention welcomed and appreciated the government’s decision to announce culture and film policies in the concluding session of NAC on Monday.

They especially appreciated the efforts of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage State Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb for taking a keen interest in resolving the issues faced by artists.