F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: The artistes on the Music Freedom Day asked the provincial government to take practical steps for revival of entertainment industry being suffered dearly due to the long lasting militancy and lack of ownership and due importance by the successive governments.
The demand was made during an event organized by cultural journalists forum( C J F ) with collaboration of Takhleeq Development Foundation, to mark the Music Freedom Day at the Peshawar Press Club. Actors, singers, musicians and a large number of youth and music loving people attended the event.
Director Takhleeq Development Foundation and famous Pashto language dramas actor Arshad Hussain said the day was observed on March 3 annually in 60 countries across the globe. The artiste said the day was observed to highlight the importance of music and plight of people associated with this industry.
He said the artistes were faced with numerous hardships and the industry was suffered due to militancy and ignorance by successive governments.
Arshad Hussain said that several artistes have changed their profession due to threats from militants while score of others were killed in Peshawar and other districts for hosts of reasons. “Singers and songwriters like Ayman Udas, Ghazala Javed and others were shot dead while Shehensha Bacha, Alamzeb Mujahid and others changed their profession due threats from militants and Gulzar Alam and others shifted abroad,” he added.
He lamented that the artistes from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were also being ignored at the national level events and their services were not recognized.
President culture journalists forum ( C J F ), Ihtisham Toru said that artistes should forge unity among their ranks to get their due rights as no one would give them due rights easily. He called for provision of monthly stipends to artiste from tribal areas as they were not included in the monthly stipends program for artistes in KP. He also demanded government ownership of the industry and a proper mechanism
Winner of presidential Pride of Performance Award Nazar Gul Ustad (Music Composer & Director) pointed out that the Pakistan Television was paying a meager amount of Rs250 to musicians for performing in a program. “I performed in a PTV program and did not pay the money despite lapse of six months. I have a family to look after. How would a look after them when I am not paid reasonable wage and that too after several months,” he questioned. Usad Maas Khan ` Shakir Zaib `A R Anwar `singer Rashid Khan ` Rabab Player Gulab Khel `Shahid Malang also addressed the participants.
The artiste said that several artistes were fall ill and awaiting government attention to provide them financial support.
Later, famous singer Hashmat Sahar, Fazal Akbar Rahi ` emerging young singers Bilawal Saeed, Zubair Nawaz female singers Shabnum Naseem, Farah Khan` Ashraf Gulzar ` Mehtab Ziab , Rabab players, Gulab Khel Afridi and others enthralled and received huge applause from the audience.
