The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on National Heritage and Culture Division convened its second meeting under Chairperson Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar in Islamabad to review the activities and performance of the Division and its affiliated organizations. The session featured detailed briefings from heads of various departments, with committee members making recommendations to further preserve and promote Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage.
Committee members were briefed on the core functions of the National Heritage and Culture Division, which include the advancement and protection of Pakistan’s heritage, art, literature, languages, archaeological sites, museums, and monuments through both domestic and international collaboration. The Division oversees a total of eleven organizations.
The Executive Director of Lok Virsa informed members about its programs, human resources, and budget, highlighting plans for a ten-day folk festival intended to showcase provincial cultures. The committee suggested increasing youth participation in such events, especially at the Annual Lok Mela festival.
The Director General of the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) reported steady attendance at the National Arts Gallery, with up to 500 daily visitors. Meanwhile, the Quaid-e-Azam Mazar Management Board noted that the mausoleum attracts almost two million visitors each year.
Literary initiatives were discussed by the Chairperson of the Pakistan Academy of Letters, who outlined the annual distribution of 22 literary awards, including the prestigious lifetime Kamal-e-Fann award, along with stipends and grants for local writers and scholarly organizations. The Committee requested a detailed report on all funds distributed to artists.
Addressing digital outreach, members sought information about the activation of social media accounts for all organizations under the Division. It was confirmed that active accounts exist, and the Committee asked for comprehensive access details for these platforms in the next meeting.
The Director of Iqbal Academy Pakistan shared that the institution has published 500 books on Allama Iqbal in 27 languages and preserved nearly 1,730 of his letters. Events are being planned for Iqbal’s 150th birth anniversary. The Committee urged the digitization of Iqbal’s works with visuals to increase youth interest and pressed for the swift approval of a newly prepared Iqbal curriculum spanning from nursery to post-doctorate studies.
The Aiwan-e-Iqbal Complex Administrator described initiatives to engage youth with Iqbal’s legacy, with the Committee recommending broader student participation from across the country. The National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) reported its three-year diploma programs in theatre and music, and members requested student data from the past four years.
The Department of Archaeology and Museums updated the Committee on the status of heritage sites, clarifying that all sites outside Islamabad have been managed by provincial governments since 2011. Additional updates were provided by the National Library of Pakistan regarding its operations, and the National Language Promotion Department, with the Committee advocating practical steps to strengthen the Urdu language and expedite approval for Urdu as a medium in competitive exams.
Committee members, including both in-person and virtual attendees, as well as federal ministry officials, contributed to discussions aimed at furthering the Division’s mission to preserve and promote Pakistan’s cultural legacy.
