HYDERABAD, March 11: The University of Sindh has finalized arrangements for a three-day international conference on art scheduled to be held from March 25 to 27 at the newly constructed building of the Institute of Art and Design with a 15-day painting exhibition from March 25.

A meeting of the organizing committee was held on Tuesday to review arrangements for the conference.

The chairman of the organizing committee and director of the institute, Dr Mohammad Ali Bhatti, informed the meeting that about 500 scholars from local and foreign universities, art schools and organizations would participate in the conference where 45 scholars would read papers in five sessions.

He said that noted scholars and artists from all over the country and abroad -- including Nepal, Nigeria, Ireland, Turkey and Iran -- had confirmed their participation.

He said that they had received 350 paintings from artists of international repute from abroad as well as Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and other parts of the country which would be displayed at the international exhibition.

Dr Bhatti said that art works of eminent artists of the country, including Gulji, Sadquain and Mashkoor Raza, would also be displayed at the exhibition. The art work of alumni and senior teachers of the institute would also be displayed.

The conference would be held at the auditorium and exhibition at the galleries of the institute at Allama I. I. Kazi campus, Jamshoro. According to the programme, Abdullah Hussain Haroon will inaugurate the conference and noted art critic Marjoori Hussain will be keynote speaker in inaugural session.

The first day working session will be chaired by Shah Abdul Latif University vice-chancellor Dr Nilofer Shaikh and Dr Ihsan Ali, vice-chancellor, Hazara University, Mohammad Ali Tirmizi from National College of Arts, Nilofer Farrukh, art historian from Karachi, and Dr Ghazala from University of Peshawar will be speakers.

On second day of the conference, first session will be chaired by Musarrat Naheed Imam of the National Art Gallery, Lahore, and Dr Mohammad Saleem from Islamabad, Professor Radhey Sham Mulmi from Nepal, Amina Saleem from Fatima Jinnah University, Qudoos Mirza from the NCA and Ghulam Reza Hassani from Iran will present papers.

The second session will be chaired by Hameed Akhund, former secretary, culture and tourism, and Ms Ragni from Nepal, Kenneth Anyanwu of Nigeria, Professor Mukhtiar Kazi from the Sindh University and Maleeha Paracha from the LUMS will be speakers.

On the third day, first session will be chaired by Mehtab Akbar Rashidi, former secretary, culture and tourism, and Shazia Mirza of the NCA , Dr Bettina Robotka, German scholar at the IBA, Karachi, Durya Kazi from University of Karachi and Dr Shoukat Mehmood from the University of Punjab will present papers.

The second session will be chaired by noted scholar Dr Ghulam Ali Allana and Dr Hidayat Prem from University of Sindh, Dr Gulten Imamoglu and Dr Suleman Tarman from Turkey, Professor Michel Rice from Ireland and Professor Qudsia Nasir from Islamia University will be speakers.

The delegates of the conference will visit Bhit Shah and other parts of Sindh to see cultural and archaeological sites.

The institute is also publishing a souvenir of art work which will be displayed at the exhibition and a book of papers and presentations to be presented in the conference.