ISLAMABAD: A week-long special programme on “Kashmiri Folk Crafts: Engagement with Artisans” marking Kashmir Solidarity Day started here at the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa). Federal Secretary Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan, Pir Bukhsh Khan Jamali, was the chief guest on the opening ceremony of the programme. Addressing the ceremony, Secretary Kashmir Affairs commended the efforts of Lok Virsa for promoting and projecting Kashmir’s cause in such an effective manner. He said a week-long cultural event would promote the culture and art of Kashmiri people. He said the event would specially focus on the Kashmiri indigenous folk crafts coinciding with the Kashmir Solidarity Day 2017 with the objective to highlight the sacrifices of the Kashmiri people struggling for their right of self-determination in occupied Kashmir through a cultural perspective. Earlier, Executive Director Lok Virsa said: “We have initiated this training programme for students and young children around folk crafts.” She said these craft-persons would not only display their crafts but make them in front of the people and also teach children.