Safety Nets needed for disaster mitigation: Dr Qadir

MUNIR AHMED

The Disaster Safety Nets would be the only solution to combat challenges of natural disasters that would be a frequent phenomenon in the years to come with rising climate change, said Dr Zafar Iqbal Qadir, Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Tuesday while talking to the Dateline.

He said the Disaster Safety Nets is an emerging concept for the mitigation of calamities, and Pakistan would be the first one on the map to launch it with strategic innovation. The financial model that we are developing for the Disaster Safety Nets would lessen the huge financial burden on the shoulders of the government and the donor agencies during emergencies, Dr Qadir said.

“Only last year we had to suffer a loss of $356 million from floods, while the losses in 2010 were much higher. Pakistan is at the top of the vulnerability chart because of the rapid climatic changes. Therefore, we need immediate action and measures to safeguard the life and property of people. Certainly, no government and the donors are in the position to provide rescue, relief and rehabilitation, in the wake of natural disasters in the world, and Pakistan is no exception.”

Dr Qadir said we are in the process of developing a financial model for the Disaster Risk Insurance for every household in the disaster-prone areas in the country. Through this strategic intervention, all households would be provided protection in the shape of insurance for life, food security, shelter, livestock, and crops.

Government, charity organisations, philanthropists, and the donor agencies would pay the entire premium on behalf of the households insured in the scheme. The World Bank is more than happy to buy this innovative idea, as it would cost less to the development and humanitarian agencies to bear the losses from the natural disasters.

Dr Qadir stated, “In case of emergencies, the insurance agencies would have to bear the cost of five major components including life, food security, shelter, livestock and crops. The government would ensure timely compensation against insurances. There would be a feedback, monitoring, and evaluation mechanism to ensure smooth flow of the system.”

He said, “We also need to introduce and proactively work on the urban disaster management for at least Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad-Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Quetta, Badin, and Mirpurkhas. For some districts including Quetta, Badin, Karachi, and Rawalpindi Division, the NDMA has done the district level multi-hazard mapping while for some others is in the pipeline. This would help the government for its preparedness to take precautionary measures and to handle the emergency well in time.

“Karachi shall be our focus in preparedness, as the city provides 60 per cent of the total revenue to the national exchequer. It could be hit by cyclone, Tsunami, or any other natural calamity. Islamabad the capital city lies on the fault-line. We need to have clear mapping of the vulnerabilities of each city and the roadmap to address them effectively.

Talking about the Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy, Dr Qadir said, the UNDP has appointed consultants who would start working soon on the policy. We would surely be adopting the bottom- to-top approach to formulate the document through stakeholder consultations – which would be complete in the next six months, he said.

Published in daily Dateline Islamabad, Jan 25, 2012.

http://www.dateline.com.pk/?p=1516

http://www.dateline.com.pk/epaper/index.php?date=2012-01-25&page_no=3

Speakers stress equal rights for minorities

Munir Ahmed

ISLAMABAD — Speakers at a seminar Thursday called for elimination of all sorts of discrimination and violence against minorities.

The seminar was organised by the World Minorities Alliance (WMA) to commemorate the World Minorities Day.

Several civil society representatives from Pakistan, the UK and Canada spoke on the occasion.

The seminar was symbolically presided over by the UN Secretary General Ban-ki-moon whose portrait was placed on the stage. Flags of the UN member countries also adorned the stage.

Federal Parliamentary Secretary Mahboob Ullah Jan said, “Islam has clearly defined the rights of the minorities in a Muslim state.

The founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah also spoke of equal rights of minorities in his speeches.

Pakistan’s flag marks the presence of minorities. Right from the day of independence, Pakistan has given equal opportunities to minorities to excel in all fields. The minorities enjoy a significant number of seats including the first law minister of the country.”

However, he said the minorities all over the world faced severe challenges including Pakistan.

That is though is not a common phenomenon yet of concern for all of us.

“We need to improve the situation at home he said, and urged the world authorities to make the situation better for all minorities across the globe.”

The speakers highlighted violence against Muslim minorities, maltreatment to the suppressed and denial of the fundamental rights to the minorities.

They said there was a need to draw a roadmap for efforts to establish international harmony and promote mutual respect for sensitivities of minorities in the world, particularly the sub-continent.

The day was observed to encourage peace activists and representatives of the minorities to ensure their regular assembly and exchange ideas for the interfaith harmony.

They said there was a need for increased understanding among the followers of different faiths. J Salik, the WMA chairman, highlighted his services for minorities that he said spread over the three decades.

He proposed minorities representation in the UN, World Minorities Bank and a parliament.

Faisal Mushtaq, Executive Director Roots School System, Saeed Wajid Bukhari, WMA Coordinator Europe, Sohail S Kiani, Globe Foundation of Canada, and Abdul Majeed Malik, a social activist from the UK also spoke on the occasion.

They urged the governments in different countries to implement the international treaties on the rights of minority in their respective countries in letter and spirit.

A majority in one country is a minority in the other. Therefore all majorities should take measures to provide enabling space to their minorities as the followers of their religion would certainly be minority elsewhere.

Published in daily Dateline Islamabad, Jan 13, 2012

http://www.dateline.com.pk/?cat=15

http://www.dateline.com.pk/epaper/index.php?date=2012-01-13&page_no=5

Khalid Javed: Folk beginnings

Munir Ahmed

Public sector cultural institutions have played a key role in bringing life to the capital. Just after becoming prime minister, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto asked famous poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz to develop a report on the scope of cultural institutions to promote culture and heritage of the land, says Khalid Javed, Executive Director, Lok Virsa.

“I was a student when Faiz Ahmed Faiz, my maternal uncle, was given the task. He finalised the report in a few weeks. Based on his report, the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) was established in March 1972 by a Presidential Order. Bhutto appointed Faiz its first chairman.”

Javed recalls PNCA initially had four departments performing arts, visual arts, folk art museum, and folklore research centre.

“I joined the Folk Art Museum in January 1973 as a Programme Executive. The RCD Cultural Institute was also established within the PNCA. It was aimed at promoting cultural harmony among the members of the Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD) — Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey. Qudratullah Fatmi, then Joint Director at the Culture Ministry, was the head of this centre.”

Khalid Saeed Butt was Executive Director Visual and Performing Arts, while Uxi Mufti was appointed Executive Director for the Folk Art Museum, and the Folklore Research Centre, said Javed.

About the name of the institution, Javed said, “Unesco was funding projects on the preservation and promotion of folk and traditional heritage. So, the National Institute for Preservation and Promotion of Folk and Traditional Heritage was much suited to the new organisation. Later, it was renamed Lok Virsa – the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage.

“In the initial period, we did extensive fieldwork all over the country for research and collection of folk articles and craft. We launched Aghaz-e-Raabta in 1978 to take on board all the representative folk artists and artisans for the promotion of folklore.”

The construction of Lok Virsa’s own building started in 1977 after the government had allotted about five acres in the Shakarparian National Park area, said Khalid Javed. The Media Centre and the Folk Museum were the first two buildings completed in 1979 followed by the rooftop open-air theatre in 1981. The museum was inaugurated in 1983.

Khalid Javed told Dateline Islamic Architectural Heritage was the first show Lok Virsa arranged in 1979 with overwhelming participation from Muslim countries and neighbouring friends.

“Lok Mela, a popular feature of Lok Virsa, was launched in 1981. Noor Muhammad, a master artisan of block-making from Fateh Jang, was decorated with turban in a dastbardari ceremony at the inauguration. The National Crafts Council was incepted on the occasion. A seasoned politician Begum Abida Hussain was chosen its first chairperson.

“A survey of Pakistani craft was completed in 1981. Taj Bibi from Balochistan, Nigah Hussain Durani from Peshawar, Nanhay Khan from Lahore, and Muhammad Bakhsh from Sindh were the first recipients of President’s Pride of Performance Award in 1982.”

Some of Lok Virsa’s important milestones are the International Islamic Heritage Festival Saarc Festival and G-8 Nations Festival in early 1990s and the Silk Route Festival at Gilgit in 2000. General Musharraf inaugurated the Virsa Museum on August 14, 2004. Due to increasing terrorism in Pakistan, Lok Mela was discontinued in 2006 but revived in 2011.

“We have adopted a new approach of taking a mini Lok Mela to different cities of Pakistan. So far, we have arranged events in Muzaffarabad (AJK), Narowal, and Multan during 2010-11. This year, mini Lok Mela will go to Peshawar and Hyderabad.

Published in daily Dateline Islamabad, Jan 13, 2012

http://www.dateline.com.pk/?cat=13

http://www.dateline.com.pk/epaper/index.php?date=2012-01-13&page_no=2

‘Middle class to shape future of Pakistan politics’

MUNIR AHMED

ISLAMABAD – Imran Khan is fast becoming the first choice national leadership for the Pakistanis living in the United States and the UK because of the slogan of change in society, said Dr Arslan Ramzi, Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Monday.

He was talking to Dateline after a discussion at the Safma. Ramzi is at the UMASS since 2004 after doing his PhD in Economics from the American university the same year.

He did his MS in the Civil/Transportation Engineering from the University of Texas in 1996, and BS Civil Engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Taxila, in 1995. He has research interests in open economy macroeconomics, international trade, development economics, political economy of growth and distribution, history of economic thought.

Ramzi said, “The rise of Khan shows people’s concerns over the corrupt practices of the top leadership in every sphere of life in Pakistan including politics, bureaucracy, army, and business.”

“Pakistani Diaspora in the foreign countries is more concerned with the prevailing state of affairs in Pakistan, and want a visible and sustainable change but through a democratic process.”

He was optimistic the present government would complete its tenure. However, he said the government would not be able to control the damage done to its rapport.

Corruption will continue to haunt the successive governments for decades to come, whether it is that of Imran Khan or some other leader.

“Look at Khan. He has been surrounded by all the rejected and dejected elements. The old workers have been pushed to backbenches and the newcomers are calling the shot. Would they really make a difference as one expected of them?” he asked.

He further said, the middleclass is a reality and it would shape the future of the politics as well as the country. The two mainstream parties and the military regimes have been tried and tested but all in vain, he said.

“Rise of the right wing is not a phenomenon in Pakistan alone; it is also evident from the Arab-spring and in other countries of the region. According to him, the lawyers’ movement in 2007 was mainly run by the right wing, and as a result tilted the Supreme Court towards the right. Pakistan’s military except some of the top-ranking officers all are from the right wing. Pakistan future tends to be the right wing unless something very unusual happens,” Ramzi said.

On macroeconomic measures, he suggested three immediate steps including enhancing the tax-base, improving growth rate by giving incentives to industry, and land reforms. He believes in the days to come pressure would continue to mount on the US all over the world for its policies.

“It would curtail its influence on the world which otherwise has become almost uni-polar. The economic rise of China and India would be focus of the world bringing more stability in the region. Pakistan can also benefit from the overall economic scenario with steadfast financial and capital mechanisms.”

Published in Dateline Islamabad, Jan 10, 2012

http://www.dateline.com.pk/epaper/index.php?date=2012-01-10&page_no=4

Mahmooda Ghazia: Against all odds

MUNIR AHMED

WOMEN face enormous problems in pursuing their careers. It was worse in the 1970s. The environment was not conducive as it is today, says Mahmooda Ghazia who started her creative journey as a poet and journalist in 1975.

“I joined monthly Sang (Stone) in 1975 and almost a year later, I joined Hum Watan, a monthly magazine of the Federal Ministry of Religious and Minority Affairs, as an assistant editor. The magazine, focusing on minorities, was published regularly until April 1979 when we published a cross on the title of the magazine to show solidarity with Christians on Good Friday.

“Those were turbulent times, with people protesting against the death sentence of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. They were the early years of General Zia’s martial law. The dictator took offence to our magazine’s title page, perhaps thinking it was intentionally published to mourn the death of a popular political leader. Therefore, the magazine was closed down.

“After spending two years in the surplus pool, I was sent to the Ministry of Culture in 1981 as a Publications Officer with the RCD Cultural Trust, a section of the Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD). Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey were the members. Following a conflict between Iran and Turkey, the RCD met its destiny. The mistrust among nations lost the Cultural Trust. Most of the staff was sent to the surplus pool again.

“During the same period, somewhere in 1982, Hassan Abbas Raza and I were publishing a literary magazine Khayyaban. In the third issue, we published several pieces of resistance poetry by Ahmed Faraz, Hassan Abbas, Aftab Iqbal Shamim and others. The federal government registered an FIR against us, the first one under the Terrorist Act.

“Hassan Abbas Raza was arrested, thrashed, and beaten brutally, and sent to Rawalpindi Jail. However, I managed to flee to Lahore.

“Hafeez ur Rehman, who is now a well-known cultural and art critic, was the Punjab’s Secretary of Culture and living in Lahore. I remained hidden in his house for many months. An inquiry committee was founded with a seasoned bureaucrat Yousaf Jamal as its head. Although the case was dismissed later, I was deprived of six years’ government service as punishment.

“I joined PNCA in 1983. Even that was a bumpy road until I retired as Director National Performing Arts Group (NPAG) in June 2011. The male-dominated PNCA created all possible hurdles for me while the blue-eyed ones were promoted frequently and without seniority.

“I had been struggling and fighting against them since my first day of joining the PNCA. Those who compromised professionally and flattered the bosses were successful while I had to wait for justice. Even then, it was half delivered.

“I am proud of what I am today, and proud of not compromising in anyway. Though the journey of life was not easy, I had to prove a woman could be hard to hunt and could serve her family like a man. In many cases, better than men. I believe a woman has more courage and patience than a man to fight against the odds.”

During her career, Mahmooda Ghazia published two collections of poetry; Ikai ki Maut (1987) and Aetebaar Kiyun Nahin Kartay (2005). Her third, Neend ki dor hi Toot gai, is under print.

Published in daily Dateline Islamabad, Jan 10, 2012

http://www.dateline.com.pk/epaper/index.php?date=2012-01-10&page_no=2

Pro-poor policies to ensure peace in Balochistan

MUNIR AHMED

Bardasht NGO arranged a dialogue on the law and order situation in Balochistan and a vigil for Dr Baqir Shah, the courageous police surgeon who was brutally murdered in Quetta for speaking truth regarding the Kharotabad incident.

Senator Mahabat Khan Marri speaking on the occasion said the previous governments only obliged a few heads of the tribes in Balochistan who intentionally kept the people deprived of their rightful. Now, the deprivations have accumulated to the extent that has created the present law and order situation. “Not only Islamabad, the top leadership of the province also equally responsible for the present situation that exploited the resources to become rich. There had been no monitoring and accountability of the resources provided by the federal government.”

He was the view that now it is very difficult for an ordinary political worker to contest elections and win. The common people are peaceful and flag-carrier of Pakistan which are threatened by a minority of five per cent. The situation the province could improve if the extremists are over-powered, and by putting a check on the external elements harbouring the terrorist activities in the province.

The mass media, he suggested, can play role in bring about a change in the behaviours of those creating problems in the province.

Senator Surriya Amir-ud-Din, advisor to President on Balochistan, said half of the Quetta city population has migrated to Islamabad and other cities in Punjab and Sindh. Mostly Punjabi and Hazara people are the target who are asked to leave the province. “They had spent decades in building up their businesses and properties. Now they are being forced to leave the province. Many of the educationists and business people have been killed and have vacated because of threats to their lives.”

She said she has also been living in Islamabad after they had received threats for raising voice against the violation of human rights. She urged the people to come forward to restore peace in the province.

Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar, Chairperson Bardasht, in her opening remarks said her NGO was a forum for dialogue to promote peace, harmony and understanding among the people from different part of the country. “We encourage civil society and media to voice for consensus on the differences and to find unity in diversity. We need to honour the courage of people like Dr Baqir Shah and all those who sacrificed their lives for the truth.”

The seminar concluded with a set of recommendations. The participants demanded immediate restoration of basic rights for the people of Bolochistan, an independent trial of Dr Baqir’s murder.

A recommendation was to confer a civil or a Presidential award to Dr Baqir for his courage, and to rename a road in Islamabad in his name.

The participants also demanded complete facilitation and movement for media person covering Balochistan issue, and hurdle-free movement of civil society representatives in Balochistan for people-to-people contact. Human rights activist voiced for immediate withdrawal of army and Frontier Constabulary from Bolochistan as a solution to the present crisis in Bolochistan.

Published in daily Dateline Islamabad, Jan 6, 2012

http://www.dateline.com.pk/epaper/index.php?date=2012-01-06&page_no=5

MUNIR AHMED
As many as 30 students presented a galaxy of creative ideas to mark the opening of ‘Creation’, an exhibition semester-end projects, Wednesday at the Hunerkada College of Visual and Performing Arts.

The exhibition showcasing artwork form interior decorative to digital graphics, paintings, wall hangings, and fashion accessories attracted the visitors. The main feature the show were the instillations made from recycled materials. Mostly the fine arts students portrayed the prevailing social conditions in the country. The fashion design students put up textured handbooks, exclusive designs of handbags prepared from the common stuff. The students of interior design used the old furniture and used-fabrics and linen to come up with the new products. They intelligently used the thin living space to make it lively with ambience created with the lamps.

The graphic design student, Faizan Mughal’s installation was themed on ‘United we stand divided we fall’. He used barbed-wires, broken glass and hanging bottles at different heights to display the differences among the various identities and entities in the country.

Corruption was the chosen subject for Akhtar Iqbal’s installation that included a sculpture with small head reflecting the self-centeredness; two different types of arms, one to show off as a clean person with the ugly arm is used for indiscriminate corruption. He used the newspapers as backdrop to its installation, which Akhtar says reflect the ugly face of the corrupt.

Nirmal Malik displayed a number of web designs that depicted her maturity in using different icons and visuals to make them look more contemporary and aesthetically rich. Her interior decorative were also of contemporary outlook.

Sidra Amjad, Farhan Ali, Laraib Waheed, Rabahar Zia, Amna Hassan, Nosheen Arif and Ayesha Junaid also proved to be creative in recycling the old stuff to make the new pieces for living space in the house. The lampshades, cubical furniture, different shapes of centre-tables, sofas and their cushions bring new colour combinations.

Some students of fashion designs including Nadia Shinwari, Khola Ahmed, Kiran Sultan Marwat, Sadaf Mahmood, Maha, Huma Khalid, Saleha Shafiq and Rebbeca created their own textures and designs for the handbags. Sadaf came up with an unusual idea of making a handbag. She used the upper part of the jeans pant to make a nice-looking handbag. Used hand-fans and jute were also used very creatively to make some good ones.

‘Globalization’ was the theme of Rafia Malik’s installation. She used the cobweb to portray the networks of communication that on the one hand facilitate the linkages, and on the other hand, people are caught up in the web.

Azeem Khan Azeem developed a village titled as ‘Katchi Basti’. It contained all figurines reflecting the village people and cattle, houses, well, and a lake. The boundary of his installation was marked with different food grains to show the agricultural products that katchi basti produces for those who live out of this small settlement.

‘Hacking’ was the theme of an installation by Misha Pernia. She reflected the impact of the ‘black-hat hacking’ that is termed as cyber crime and ‘white-hat hacking’ that is used for positive purpose.

How the black magic is used for wrongdoings was the theme of Mawara Tahir. She created the rightful ambience with all the necessary gadgets and lights.

Rabbia Kaifi used all Christmas-balls and glittering objects to attract the visitors for her installation titled ‘All that glitters is not gold’. But, inside the room was everything that is not socially acceptable in our society.

Amna Shah, the principal said, “Hunerkada College of Visual and performing Arts is a response to the necessity that has always played a very significant part in the development of human and his milieu. It has been one of the most effective and harmless means of communication throughout the history of mankind by being a catalyst in making people aware of their situations and surroundings in effect encouraging them to become partners in the process of change. Hunerkada offers students opportunities to express their creations in a welcoming and a comfortable environment.

“Hunerkada College of Visual and Performing Arts has endeavoured to educate, inspire and train people in various disciplines of art during the 17 years of its existence. It offers four years Bachelors program in arts and design in affiliation with University of Baluchistan, as well as short studio courses.

“Hunerkada Gallery, a part of Hunerkada College, being unique in its cause spotlights fresh and imminent talent and strives to provide a launching pad for professionals and talented amateurs. The ‘Creation’ presents the thoughts of the young, and their perspectives of the society.”

Published in daily Dateline Islamabad, Jan 5, 2012
http://www.dateline.com.pk/epaper/index.php?date=2012-01-05&page_no=2

Dancing with the stars

Munir Ahmed

Dancing is an expression of jubilation. Our cultural history is resplendent with traditions of classical and folk dances. However, this beautiful form of expression has been unable to flourish.

Six years ago, Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) revived its National Performing Arts Group (NPAG) in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. Naeem Tahir, former Director General PNCA, chose Zarqa Chaurdhry, a former dancer with the NPAG in Karachi, to form the Islamabad chapter of the National Performing Arts Group.

Zarqa, who had been hibernating in the capital, devoted all her time and energy to find and train young dancing enthusiasts.

Now, the NPAG has emerged as the soul of all entertainment and cultural shows in the city. A group of 10 enthusiastic dancers, including five young women, has won the hearts of culture-lovers.

Zarqa claims to have prepared as many as 30 dances including regional folk and Sufi numbers since the inception of this group in 2006. They have performed for many visiting heads of states, diplomats and other foreign delegations, and on days of national importance.

Zarqa says, “Some members of the group have also performed in International festivals and grabbed laurels. The NPAG won first prize in the 2008 Asian Arts Festival held in China and were second in 2009. The Pakistan embassy in Tokyo (Japan) invited the group to mark the country’s Independence Day celebrations in 2010.”

“Sahira, Nasir Masih, Fauzia Malik and Shail Shah were among the pioneers. Now Sehrish, Fauzia, Sunbal, Sohail Shah, and Nasir Masih are the top performers. Of course, the efforts of two heads of the PNCA cannot be undermined while mentioning the success story of the group. Firstly, it was Naeem Tahir, the former Director General, and now Tauqeer Nasir, presently heading the PNCA.”

Zarqa recalls, “Though restrictions on dance had been imposed since independence, we have also seen small-scale promotions during the democratic governments from late 1980s to late 1990s. Excluding General Zia ul Haq, all the military rulers promoted arts and culture.”

“Former president Ayub Khan established a countrywide network of arts councils in 1960s. Former Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto is termed as godfather of our culture whose personal interest gave the nation cultural institutions in the early 1970s.

“Former president General Pervez Musharraf also propagated ‘enlightened moderation’ by strengthening cultural institutions. The present premises of the PNCA and the National Art Gallery were completed in the Musharraf regime.

“The Group dates back to 1964 when Naeem Tahir was appointed Resident Director of the Punjab Arts Council, Lahore, by the then President Ayub Khan who instructed to put together a cultural troupe to tour China. Since then, the troupe has made several tours around the world as cultural ambassadors.

“PNCA was incepted in 1972 with a mandate to groom and promote culture. Being the soul of cultural social life, dance has enjoyed a central place in the performing arts programming of PNCA.”

Zarqa was part of the group when it was reformed in 1973 at the PIA Arts and Dance Academy under the supervision of Zia Mohyeddin, a living legend in Pakistan’s performing arts. The Academy was instituted on the instructions of Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Before setting up this Academy, Zia Mohyeddin had gained popularity through his PTV programme ‘Zia Mohyeddin Show’. The Group toured different countries to promote the cultural face of the country, and also performed at Madison Square Garden and for Queen Elizabeth II.

“The Academy was closed in the early 1980s when General Zia-ul-Haq imposed a ban on all sorts of cultural activities and curbed national institutes promoting dance and music. It was re-established in the first regime of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in late 1980s in Karachi, under the supervision of the PNCA.

Zarqa Chaudhry recalls, “I was one of the junior dance performers with the group in the 1970s. It was a culture-friendly era. Pakistan’s dance and music troupe was known for its excellence. Suhail Rana used to compose music and groom singers in folk and popular numbers. Maharaja Ghulam Hussain, former Bharatnatiam performer, used to choreograph the dances along with Rafi Anwar, another choreographer and dancer.”

“Leading dancers like Bulbula Feroza, Naseem Hameed and Shamsul Huda Chaurdhry always inspired and encouraged newcomers like me. We learned from them and are now teaching this art form to our present generation. Islamabad was a hot place for the group. We had several memorable performances in Islamabad for visiting dignitaries.”

Published in daily Dateline Islamabad, December 30, 2011

http://www.dateline.com.pk/epaper/index.php?date=2011-12-30&page_no=2