Like a colorful montage, the cultural tradition of the Punjab province is a happy blending of many variants, unique in diversity but in essence greatly symmetrical.
Chief Minister of Punjab Shehbaz Sharif has played a significant role in promoting and protecting Punjab’s religious and cultural assets, providing encouragement in architecture, literature, painting, music, drama, dance, recitation, qawwali etc. He has set up many cultural organizations to popularize art and culture.
LAHORE Sept 18 (TNS): Punjab province’s deep rooted heritage is amply reflected in her architecture, literature, dance, drama, music and painting. Punjab culture is influenced by our great religion Islam having the most pervading and lasting impact.
A series of religious festivals are observed here. Some of the rites are Eid-e-Miladunnabi, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Azha, Muharram etc. Like a colorful montage, the cultural tradition of the Punjab province is a happy blending of many variants, unique in diversity but in essence greatly symmetrical
Chief Minister of Punjab Shehbaz Sharif has played a significant role in promoting and protecting Punjab’s religious and cultural assets, providing encouragement in music, drama, dance, recitation, art etc. He has set up many cultural organizations to popularize art and culture.
Shehbaz Sharif has been involved in nurturing the age-old cultural traditions of Punjab as well as keeping up-to-date with the world wide cultural developments. His principal aim is to share its own cultural heritage with the rest of the world and thereby establish peace and friendly relations with all the countries of the world.
Auqaf & Religious Affairs Department is headed by the Secretary Auqaf & Religious Affairs who is assisted by the Additional Secretary and the Deputy Secretary with their ancillary staff. Secretary Auqaf & Religious Affairs also acts as Chief Administrator, Auqaf. This department is a self-fund generating body, where the basic funding is received from shrine donations, leases of agricultural lands and rents from commercial and residential properties. The funds generated are utilized for education, medical facilities, social welfare, academic scholarships and the upkeep of important religious monuments and holy places.
In the year 2013-2014 a boundary wall was constructed around the shrine of Gee Baba Attock at the cost of Rs5 million and Seerat Academy and Quran complex was established in Lahore at the cost of Rs16 million. In the same duration the Auqaf department budget was raised from Rs36million to Rs100 million. In the year 2014-2015 Badshahi mosque was managed and renovated at the cost of Rs100 million.
In 2015 to 2016 fifteen projects were completed at the cost of Rs100 million which included the construction of shrine of Hazrat Nawo Ghaza in Chakwal at the cost of Rs7 million, a development project was initiated in Jama mosque Mandi Rahem Shah Faisalabad at the cost of Rs10 million, renovation of the shrines at the cost of Rs4 million, gallery was constructed for the mosque of Hazrat Noor Shah Wali Faisalabad at the cost of Rs5 million, the repairing of Muhammad Deen Sherkot mosque at the cost of at the cost of Rs7 million, construction and repairing of Hazrat Peer Inayat Shah Bukhari and shrine of Hafizabad at the cost of Rs7 million, the welfare projects at the shrine of Hazrat Bagh Ali Shah Phalia at the cost of Rs3 million, the construction and repairing of the shrine of Hazrat Seen Muhammad Deen in Sialkot at the cost of Rs4 million, renovation of Hazrat Madhu Lal Hussain at the cost of Rs9.135, the restoration of the mausoleums of Mai Dai, Kot Khwaja Saeed and the tombs of Shalimar town.
Protective boundary walls were constructed, health facilities were provided in Hazrat Dad Sahu ul Maroof Ghory wali Sarkar Sahiwal at the cost Rs5 million, and constructive work was completed at the shrine of Hazrat Deewan Chawli Sheikh Boory Wala at the cost of Rs6 million. Moreover the shrine of Ghulam Gardish in Rahim Yar Khan was also repaired.
Punjab Council of Arts (PUCAR) is a provincial institute which promotes art culture and Literature in Punjab Province Pakistan.
Total of 4428 programs were organized from the year 2008-2016 by the Punjab Art counsel and divisional counsels. 97 temporary employees were enrolled permanently at Lahore Art Council. In 2016 different delegation visited China and Srilanka and for workshop were conducted for the rehabilitation of painting with the cooperation of CKU Denmark. Alhamra Talent program was initiated; Alhamra recording studio which was closed for last 25 years was reopened. With the cooperation of Punjab University a music diploma was initiated in Alhamra Academy of Performing Arts and music instruments like Sarangi and Sitar classes were also initiated. Moreover drawing, painting, Harmonium, and Vital Star classes were introduced.
For the entertainment of children various programs were conducted and for the public entertainment Ghazal, classical, folk and Sufi music shows were organized. For last 10 years Youth Art Exhibition was initiated. With Alhamra cooperation many cultural and literature festivals were conducted.
Successful Faison shows like Colors of Pakistan and Colors of Fusion were conducted where international artist joined as well.
Punjab Institute of Language, Art & Culture (PILAC) was established in September, 2004 for patronage, promotion and development of Punjabi Language. PILAC also focuses on conservation, protection, promotion and enhancement of the Art and cultural richness of Punjab.
PILAC is a corporate body focusing not only on sustaining and promoting language, art and culture of Punjab, but also on all matters connected therewith. PILAC is assigned to advise the Government on all matters of policy pertaining to promotion of Punjabi Language, Collect, preserve and arrange books of classical and modern Punjabi Literature, promote and project crafts of Punjab, preserve folk art, folklore’s and folk songs in their purest form, Enrich Punjabi Language and enable it to serve as a source of promoting love and brotherhood, Interact and collaborate with various Institutes and forums with a view to promote Punjabi Language, Art and Culture, Provide technical and financial and material assistance for cultural development.
For the promotion of Punjabi language and culture 34 books were published. From the year 2008-2016, 227 such programs were conducted.
Shafqat Tanveer Mirza Award and Pride of Punjab Awards were initiated by PILAC under which Poet, Writers, Columnists and Artists were given awards and cash prizes.
Further development projects included the construction of Punjab Cultural Center in the 2009-2010, Punjab auditorium Punjabi complex was extended in the year 2014-2015, Punjabi dictionary was initiated under research and publication in the year 2016-2017 and FM 95 Punjab ring radio project was upgraded.
