960421

Cultural policy

to be implemented in

letter and spirit: Zaman

ISLAMABAD: Chairman National Commission on History and Culture (NCHC) Syed Fakhar Zaman said on Sunday that the cultural policy announced by the government would be implemented in letter and spirit.

"I have the full cooperation of bureaucracy and there is no bureaucrat who could dare to create hurdles in the implementation of a policy formulated by the government," he told APP in an interview.

He said he personally monitors and supervises the performance of 12 component organizations working under the Commission as he is to report directly to the Prime Minister regarding the over all achievement of targets assigned to component bodies.

Referring to the achievements of NCHC, he said it gave First ever Cultural Policy of Pakistan," which is not less than a history making step."

He said that Pakistan Academy of Letters had held National and International conferences and more than 50 Seminars in different parts of Pakistan.

Moreover, he said that a number of valuable books have been published and Pakistani writings translated into 8 languages of the world.

Talking about other organizations working under NCHC, he said that First ever Conference on Iqbal was held by Iqbal Academy, Lahore and cheap economical editions of Iqbal Poetry were published for wide circulation.

National Language Authority, he said, had held Seminars and published some very valuable books. Similarly, NAFDEC, had distributed National Film Awards for 1990-91 and held Film Weeks of various countries.

Zaman said an exhibition on Quaid-i-Azam in Karachi was held and two Volumes on Jinnah Paper by Dr. Zawar Zaidi had been published. Furthermore, he said PNCA had held National Drama Festival and organised many cultural shows and exhibition of paintings.

The Institute of Historical and Cultural Research, he said, was assiduously working on Comprehensive History of Pakistan. Quaid-i-Azam Academy, Karachi, had organised two National Conferences on Quaid-i-Azam and translation of Quaid-i-Azam's speeches had been made into languages of Pakistan.

Zaman said that Lok Virsa had held Festival of Islamic artisans-at-Work, National Book Fair and Central Asian Artisans Fair.

Fakhar Zaman said that 50 years Celebration programmes are being finalized and they will be submitted to the National Committee on 50 years Celebrations for final approval.-APP