Rawalpindi, (Parliament Times) : The activities of artists in the Rawalpindi Arts Council were restricted.
The administration of Rawalpindi Arts Council imposed a condition on local artists to pay huge fees for celebrating religious and national festivals.On the strong appeal of the artists, Asma Butt, representing them, met the Rawalpindi Assistant Commissioner Miss Ayesha Fazilat and said that the artists are the ambassadors of Pakistan.Demanding heavy payments from them is tantamount to hurting their self-esteem.On this, Rawalpindi Assistant Commissioner Miss Ayesha Fazilat thanked Asma Butt for highlighting the problems of artists and said that our art and culture is the hallmark of Pakistan.The district administration will play its positive role in solving the problems of artists.
According to reports, if the local artists of Rawalpindi Islamabad want to pay tribute to the Pakistani forces and national heroes on Quaid-e-Azam Day, Independence Day, Defense Day, to express their love for their country, they are demanded huge fees,which they cannot afford it. In this regard, a large number of artists met Asma Butt, chairperson of Dolphin Communication and the leader of the artists, and requested that the artists be dealt with. To solve the legitimate problems of the artists.We requested to you play your positive role. On which Asma Butt along with famous actress Sheeba Butt had an important meeting with Rawalpindi Assistant Commissioner Miss Ayesha Fazilat and informed her about the problems of artists. Asma Butt said during the meeting that there is no organization working for the welfare of artists in Rawalpindi. At least Rawalpindi Arts Council should be made capable where artists can celebrate their festivals in a free and peaceful environment. Asma Butt said that the director of Rawalpindi Arts Council Sajjad has clearly told the artists that if someone will perform a Milad, then money will be collected from the artists. When the artists asked for permission to celebrate Defense Day on September 6, director Rawalpindi Arts Council Sajjad asked for compensation.
The current situation of Pakistan does not require that artists should be killed economically.She further said that the artist is the cultural ambassador of Pakistan. If humiliated, it will further worsen the social problems. The artists of the twin cities strongly appeal to lyou to take notice of the problems of the artists. The artists should be given full freedom to participate in religious and national festivals. Rawalpindi Arts Council is hindering the work of artists instead of encouraging them which is the need of the hour to take notice.