Daily Times

LAHORE: Information & Culture Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan has directed Alhamra Arts Centre (AAC) to start a music campaign and arrange a painting competition for the revival of music and art in Punjab.

He also directed to prepare a theatre drama on the life of Shaheed Sipahi Maqbool Hussain, to pay tribute to his patriotism for this country.

These directions were passed during a visit to Alhamra on Monday. In his visit, Board of Governors Chairman Tauqir Nasir, Alhamra Executive Director Captain (r) Atta Muhammad Khan, Arts & Culture Director Zulfiqar Ali Zulfi and other officers were also present.

The minister reviewed the progress of the organisation while Captain (r) Atta Muhammad Khan briefed him about activities, projects and future plans of Alhamra. He also visited different sections of Alhamra including halls, art gallery, a library, archive centre and Alhamra’s music studio. He admired the efforts of Alhamra to promote the true culture of Punjab.

On the occasion, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, while talking to media said that “we will hold a painting competition in which people will be asked to paint the name of our beloved Prophet (PBUH) in the most exceptional way”.

He also announced to start a music competition titled ‘Punjab Idol’. He said that both programmes would be helped to bring new faces of “our singers and artists in front of the nation which would be good for our country”.

He also asked Chairman Tauqir Nasir and his team to prepare a theatre drama on the life of Shaheed Maqbool Hussain, who took part in the 1965 war against India where he was taken as a prisoner by the Indian army for almost four decades. The Indian army brutally tortured him and even cut off his tongue and never gave him the status of prisoner of war.

Alhamra executive director and other officials released the orders to make the script within 15 days.

He also appreciated Alhamra’s collaboration with Shahzad Rafique’s film ‘Salute’ which was based on Aitzaz Hasan’s life who sacrificed his life to foil a suicide bomber’s attempt to blow up a school in the village of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Chohan promised to promote this film on a national level once again and said PTV along with all channels will run this movie.

Published in Daily Times, September 4^th 2018.