ISLAMABAD: An exhibition of Islamic calligraphy by eminent calligraphist Aftab Ahmed Khan opened on Friday at the Pakistan National Museum of Ethnology (Heritage Museum), Shakarparian.

Heldunder the aegis of the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, an attractiveopening ceremony, featuring recitation of the Naat, was held at the Heritage Museum where Information Secretary Shafqat Jalil was the chief guest.

Mr Jalil inaugurated the exhibition with the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony. He appreciated the works of the 85-year old calligraphist, Aftab Ahmed Khan, who was not present at the exhibition due to his illness. He was represented by his son Ehsanullah Khan, who is also an established sculptor and photographer.

Around 50 impressions made by the artist were displayed at the exhibition, which will continue at Lok Virsa Heritage Museum till the end of Ramazan.

Complimenting the artist, Shafqat Jalil said: “The artist has contributed immensely for the promotion of the centuries-old craft tradition and created new innovation in it.”

He also commended the efforts of Lok Virsa to project the calligraphic art during Ramazan.

A large number of students from Quaid-i-Azam University and IMCB I-10/1 attended the opening ceremony.

Earlier in her welcoming remarks, Lok Virsa Executive Director Shahera Shahid shed light on the works of the artist, Aftab Ahmed Khan.

“The purpose of holding the exhibition is to promote traditional art of calligraphy and to encourage practitioners associated with it in order to ensure its continuance for future generations,” she said.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2019