ISLAMABAD: The National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) launched a unique exhibition of textiles here Friday featuring the craft of textile and skills of craft persons associated with this industry in Pakistan.
Minister of State for Climate Change, Zartaj Gul inaugurated the exhibition while the opening ceremony was followed by performances based on “Kalam-e-Iqbal” to pay tribute to the great philosopher and national poet Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal coinciding with his forthcoming death anniversary.
Speaking on the occasion, Zartaj Gul said Iqbal’s teachings are the source of guidance for the young generation and those who follow the philosopher poet Allama Iqbal, follow the concept of connecting people to each other rather then dividing them.
“Our government has given high importance to the cultural values and traditions of the country and there is no competition of our folk crafts in the world. Our crafts have become limited to exhibitions only as we give importance to international brands,” she said, adding that Lok Virsa is promoting the textile craft to give recognition and identity to the people of Pakistan.
The colorful activities of the textile exhibition were followed by Folk Food Festival carrying culinary delights and there will be musical evenings for fun lovers of federal capital during the three-day festivity.
The three-day “National Exhibition of Textiles” has been arranged in collaboration with provincial culture departments and small industries corporations to welcome the spring season in festive mood.
The textile exhibition aims at promoting the traditional textiles and encouraging master artisans associated with them to continue practicing the centuries’ old traditions inherited by them from their forefathers.
It is a unique opportunity for the artisans in the field of textile to not only demonstrate their craftsmanship for three consecutive days at federal capital but also sell their products to public and visiting foreign delegates without any exploitation by the middleman.
The food festival has displayed stalls of traditional foods like Balochi Sajji, Chapli Kabab, Saag Roti and many other scrumptious regional foods to attract and please the visitors. Besides the food stalls, folk dance and regional musical nights will also be arranged to entertain the audience.
The event has been planned to celebrate Spring as it was Lok Virsa’s tradition to hold Annual Lok Mela in the month of April that was shifted to October and November, keeping in view the desire of people to have a Spring festivity, these activities have been planned to provide various cultural and fun activities to culture lovers in the same spirit of Lok Mela, said Executive Director Lok Virsa, Shahira Shahid while talking to APP.
Shahira Shahid said this festival is for the people Pakistan and appreciation to the craftsmanship. The objective of the festival is to reinforce and strengthen national integration by promoting the cultural heritage of Pakistan through active participation of all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. This unique event will serve as a symbol of the federation’s recognition and patronage to the rich cultural diversity and active participation of the people of Pakistan.
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