In terms of art, perhaps, the most overlooked form in Balochistan remains the fine arts, so much so that even the first fine arts department was established as late as in 1984 in Balochistan University. Fortunately, a few talented artists from the province were already making an attempt to improve the situation. In 1978, for example, the Balochistan Arts Council started art classes; a venture launched by the famous Balochi poet and writer, Atta Shaad, who was the director of the institution. It began with a small group of students, some of who are now famous painters and sculptors, for example Jamal Shah, Akram Dost, Kaleem Khan, Pir Mohammad Tareen, Hameed Baloch, and Sher Bano. They were the strength behind the department at the university as well.

It was through the efforts of this group of dedicated artists from the province, that youngsters started painting and sculpting, many of them making a mark through surrealistic work, landscape paintings, and depictions of famous characters, the Baloch and Pashtoon warriors, the great tribal figures and of daily life in the rugged province. Since its inception in 1984, around 50 to 60 young boys and girls have graduated from the department and many of them have been holding successful exhibitions of their works not only at the regional or national level, but at the international level as well.

Noteworthy is the example, of a young girl—a student of the department—who suffers from poliomyelitis. She has now moved to Lahore where she is studying arts at the NCA—something which has brought a lot of strength, hope and colour in her life.

Only recently, the provincial government has decided to establish a college of art and design. The physical work on the building is near completion. The institute boasts highly qualified teachers and the younger lot seems to show a lot of interest in learning the art of painting, sculpting and designing.