The Senate Standing Committee on Culture and Tourism on Monday recommended setting up Lok Virsa museums in all province of the country to promote culture heritage. The committee, which met with Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar in the chair here at the Lok Virsa, was, briefed on the past one year performance and future plans of the Lok Virsa.
The panel recommended that it should be ensured that the Lok Virsa museum is opened to visitors with collection of videos and audios on local cultures. The committee proposed that there should be a Lok Virsa museum in every provinces of the country on the pattern of the Federal Capital.
The committee recommended that Lok Virsa should hold programmes in smaller provinces-Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially in interior Sindh, which has the lot of potential of Sufi culture. Secretary Culture Moin-ul-Islam Bokhari, however, said that the ministry of culture was already in contact with the provinces to promote the culture of Pakistan who also told the committee that heritage museums would be set up in all the provinces. The chairperson of the Committee also urged the Ministry for making special package in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Hotel operators to promote Sufi Melas (fair).
She also recommended that Multan Festival should be extended to Turkey under the culture exchange programme between Istanbul and Multan. While briefing on future plan of Lok Virsa, the Executive Director Khalid Javed stated that two books regarding the contribution to the culture of renowned poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz are ready to be launched soon. He further said that Lok Virsa was also working for revival of many musical instruments for which training will be held. The panel was further told that the Lok Virsa is arranging artisans at work festivals in May and Faiz Mela in Narrowal in April.
Committee member Senator Pervez Rashid emphasised the need for highlighting history of Pakistan to tell the younger generation about the sacrifices rendered by our forefathers for creation of the country. He pointed out that Lok Virsa should correct the translation of the Quaid's saying as the word Faith means "Yaqeen" not "Eman".
He suggested that steps should be taken for the promotion of 32 languages of Pakistan, which he said, were on the verge of collapse. He also emphasised the need to work on Gandhara, which he said has a rich history.
Senator Javed Ali Shah was of the view that a separate and full-fledged Saraiki section should also be established at Lok Virsa. Senator Abdul Rahim Khan Mandokhel, while endorsing the suggestion, also proposed that Sufi poetry in Pashto language by Khushal Khan Khattak and Rehman Baba should be promoted along with the Khudai Khidmatgar movement launched by Khan Abdul Ghafar Khan.
The panel stressed the need for security arrangements of all the shrines and museums to ensure these public places are secure for the people. The committee also recommended that after devolution process, the board of governors of all organisation that fall under the Ministry of Culture should have one MNA and one Senator as members. About the present status of Melody and Nafdec Cinemas, the committee recommended that the ministry should contact the owners of the said cinemas to convince them to make them operational. The Secretary informed the committee that some interested parties had given their documents in this regard, which has been sent to Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA).