Pakistan Day celebrated at Lok Virsa

Pakistan Day was celebrated at the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage, which is also known as Lok Virsa with a great fervour, festivity and enthusiasm. Besides Lok Virsa, the newly established Pak-China Friendship Centre was also the venue of the special activities related to Pakistan Day.
The programmes organised to mark the auspicious occasion included a representative exhibition of artisans-at-work featuring master craftsmen from different corners of the country, thrilling performances by traditional drum-beaters and folk dance groups attired in beautiful and colorful costumes.
The artisans exhibition was arranged at Pak-China Friendship Centre, whereas the cultural and musical performances were held both at Lok Virsa complex and the Pak-China Friendship Centre. The craft fields specially, focused during the exhibition were Namda and Gabba weaving, carpet making, embroidery, wax printing, wood works and metal works. Twelve master artisans and helpers participated in the exhibition while demonstrating their craftsmanship and selling their products to the public without involvement of middleman.
The names of the master artisans are: Mukhtar Dar, Namda and Gabba; Zahid Riaz, wax printing; Zahid Hussain, stone carving; Rubina Zulfiqar, Kashmiri shawl; Muhammad Zaman, carpet weaving; Fozia, doll making; Sultana, Hunza embroidery; Rubina Yasmin, Multani embroidery; Shirin Gulzar, Gota Kanari (embroidery) and Habib-ur-Rehman, truct art.
Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) in collaboration with Lok Virsa also hosted a cultural show at Pak-China Friendship Centre, wherein several prominent artists and musicians from all provinces performed.
The participating artists were Tarannum Naz, Shaukat Ali, Sahira Tahir, Bashir Baloch, Humaira Naz, Subhan Rathar, Shan, Sanam Marvi, Taj Mastani, Taj Buledi, Lucky Ali, Qurban Niazi, Master Rohan Abbas, Shaukat Manzoor and Rafaqat Ali Khan. Folk, Sufi and classical dances were essential part of the show.
National Monument Museum at western part of Shakarprian depicting birth, history and development of Pakistan also remained open for public throughout the day and entertained a great number of visitors. Lok Virsa's executive Director Khalid Javaid said these activities were to provide a better cultural entertainment to the masses suffering from various difficulties ranging from suicide bombing to unprecedented price hike. He informed that the Lok Virsa would host the annual Lok Mela titled 'Artisans-at-work festival' in May this year, where a large number of well-known artists would perform.