ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain has approved financial assistance of Rs 8.3 million to 40 deserving artists, as he was chairing the Artists Welfare Fund’s steering committee meeting at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Monday. The president said that the artists are national assets and it is the responsibility of the society to fulfill their needs. The president stated that the artists, poets and writers are cultural ambassadors and play a significant role in promoting social and cultural norms of a country. He added that it is our social and moral responsibility to assist the needy around us. On the occasion, renowned industrialist Arif Habib also gave a donation of Rs 5 million for the fund. Members of steering committee included Attaul Haq Qasmi, Mustafa Qureshi, Muhammad Qawi Khan, Shahid Shafiq, Salman Alvi, Zeba Muhammad Ali, Asghar Nadeem Syed, Akram Dost, Arif Habib and Najeebullah Anjum.