Child folk artists perform at Lok Virsa

Islamabad

Child folk artists from all over the country performed live in a concert organised by the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) on Friday.

Earlier, these child artists entertained the audiences during Lok Virsa's annual Lok Mela held in April 2016. The talent of these children was appreciated so much that an exclusive concert was planned to encourage the upcoming generation of folk artists.

Child artists who performed in the concert included Zawar Hussain from Sindh, Muhammad Asim from Balochistan, Zamin from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Muskan, Ashir Niazi, Subhan Niazi and Muzammil from Punjab.

A large number of people from different walks of life especially families and youth and media witnessed the performances of folk child artists at the beautiful surroundings of Lok Virsa.

Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chouhdary was the chief guest on the occasion. The program conducted in English. The event was also streamed live on Lok Virsa's official website: www.lokvirsa.org.pk.

Highlighting significance of the program, Executive Director, Lok Virsa Dr. Fouzia Saeed, said that the event was an experiment of sowing the seeds of pluralistic society in younger generation.

“These artists represent a generation that will take care of our country in future and make it a truly pluralistic society where people of all cultures, languages and traditions living in Pakistan will fully own each other as valued Pakistani citizens."

She also informed that Lok Virsa besides concentrating on documentation and projection of folk musical heritage is also holding a series of programmes on ‘Craft of the Month’ where one particular craft is focused every month and the relevant master artisans are invited to provide hands on knowledge and training to children regarding the techniques involved.

“First phase of this program has already accomplished in 2015-16, whereas the second phase will start from September 5, 2016 and end in June 2017. Hundreds of children from various schools of Islamabad and Rawalpindi are participating in this popular program,” she said.

In his address, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry highly commended the efforts of Lok Virsa, especially Dr. Fouzia Saeed for promoting and projecting the cultural heritage of Pakistan with the large scale participation and mobility of children and youth.

"Children are our future. Lok Virsa has taken the right step to inculcate awareness among them about our folk music and other living traditions. We all should support such an important initiative," he said while appreciating the wonderful live performance of the children. “The performances rendered by the young folk artists today were fabulous,” he added.