Promotion of art, literature a noble cause: Irfan Siddiqui

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: Advisor to Prime Minister on National Heritage and Lok Virsa Irfan Siddiqui said the promotion of art and literature was a noble cause and stressed upon the need for proper patronage of the writers in the society.

He said this while addressing foundation stone ceremony of Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) here on Saturday. Governor KP Iqbal Zafar Jhagra was also present on the occasion.

Khyber Pakthunkhwa was not only abundant in landscape but rich too in arts and literature. The nations which did not respect their writers, could not progress rather left behind in arts and literature.

The PAL, Siddiqui said, was established in 1976 but the institute in its 42 years period, could neither do anything for its survival nor for the writers.

He told the audience that Rs120 million had been approved for the construction of PAL in FATA, and added that the building of the PAL would be constructed after acquiring land. These institutes would

not only serve as centre of excellence for the promotion of art and literature but would also promote knowledge and art.

He informed that monthly stipends of the writers had been increased from Rs7000 to Rs13000. This stipend was used to be paid to 450 writers in the country, but now it would be paid to 900 writers. The number of awards in various regional languages had been increased to 20 from 11 while the amount of the insurance had also been doubled.

He said the federal government had provided Rs500 million grant to ministry of National Heritage and Lok Virsa that enabled us to support the writers.

If society was like a body then writers were its soul. The body was useless without soul and the federal government was taking every possible step for the promotion of writers in the country, Siddiqui concluded.