ISLAMABAD: Folk artists, musicians and folk dance groups were honoured with cash awards and mobile phones at a colourful closing ceremony of Lok Mela held at Shakarparian on Saturday.

Secretary, Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Mohammad Azam was the chief guest on the occasion.

In his address, the secretary said, “Traditional practitioners including folk artists and musicians are our great treasure. They act as our ambassadors while making their performances before foreign audiences.”

Earlier in her speech, Lok Virsa’s executive director Dr. Fouzia Saeed said, “our prime focus in programing for the next year is Balochistan and Gilgit Baltistan as concerete efforts need to be made in collaboration with respective provincial culture departments to promote and strengthen their indigenous folk culture.”

During closing ceremony, certificates were presented to the provincial coordinators in token of their participation in the Lok Mela. Cash awards amounting to Rs105,000 were presented to the folk artists and musicians from all over Pakistan.

The 10-day festival pulled a big crowd and featured artisans-at-work exhibition, provincial cultural pavilions, folkloric song and dance performances, cultural evenings, craft bazaar, NGO stalls, theatre performances and many other attractions.

Sunday is the last day of the Lok Mela, which started on last Friday.

Published in Dawn, April 12th, 2015

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