President Mamnoon Hussain on Wednesday approved Rs 11.7 million financial assistance for 43 deserving artists and writers from across the country. The President gave the approval while chairing a meeting of the Steering Committee of Federal Government Artist Welfare Fund here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. President Mamnoon said writers, poets and artists were an important segment of the society, who promoted cultural and moral values, and the society should contribute in their welfare in their time of need.
The President said enhancement would be made in the Federal Government Artist Welfare Fund so that assistance could be provided to maximum number of artists. The meeting deliberated on different suggestions for increasing the welfare fund. Renowned industrialist and member of Steering Committee Arif Habib also announced a donation of Rs 5 million for the fund, on the occasion.
Secretary Cabinet Division Raja Hasan Abbas, Secretary Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Saba Mohsin Raza, Chairman Pakistan Television Corporation Atta ul Haq Qasmi, Zeba Muhammad Ali, Asghar Nadeem Syed, Professor Dr Akram Dost, Shahid Shafiq, Qawi Khan, Salman Alvi, Arif Habib, Mustafa Qureshi, Najeeb ullah Anjum and senior officials attended the meeting.