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Art galleries continue to thrive in the cultural capital of Pakistan with a multitude of painting exhibitions, which are at times held simultaneously in different parts of the provincial metropolis for avid art lovers.
Nairang Art Galleries was the venue of an exhibition of miniature paintings by a group of young artists, all of whom have graduated from the National College of Arts (NCA), which was inaugurated by well-known novelist Bapsi Sidhwa. On display in the exhibition titled “Four Sides” were 24 miniature paintings, being the art work of Fatima Ghufran, Irfan Gul, Akbar Ali and Rabia Ahmad. Bapsi Sidhwa took a round along with Nayyer Ali Dada and other guests after the formal inauguration, duly appreciating the young artists for their artistic skills, stopping here and there to admire the works. Afterwards, Bapsi Sidhwa wrote in the Visitors Book: “This is a living testimony to the fact that things are rapidly changing in the world of art and there is a visible qualitative change in the perspective and artistic genius of our contemporary boys and girls of art.”

Celebrating Folklore
The Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture (PILAC) at the auditorium of the Punjabi Complex organized a festival in connection with the Urs celebrations of popular Punjabi poet and creator of evergreen folklore, Heer Ranjha, Waris Shah. A number of activities such as a display of books written on and about Waris Shah and his poetry, the staging of a dramatized version of Heer Ranjha, etc. formed part of the Waris Shah Mela. Advisor to the Provincial Chief Minister Pervaiz Rashid inaugurated the colorful, literary and cultural event of great importance and stayed around for some time.

Prime Minister visits Mehdi Hassan
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani visited the provincial capital twice within a week after a gap of just one day and went through a busy schedule of engagements. While in the city, the PM visited the residence of the late revolutionary poet, Habib Jalib, one day and the house of ailing ghazal maestro, Mehdi Hassan, on the next. On both these visits, he was accompanied by PPP Secretary General Jahangir Badar among others and duly cheered by the people gathered around.
Enquiring about the welfare of the widow of Habib Jalib, the Prime Minister lauded the services and contributions of her husband and announced some steps, including provision of jobs, to ensure the family members live respectably to the extent possible.
On visiting the great ghazal singer, the Prime Minister remarked “I’m your great fan and admirer, sir. What can I do for you?” After chatting for some time and posing for a group photo with the ailing ghazal maestro and family members as a memento of the important happening, the Prime Minister announced a lifetime donation of Rs. 50,000 per month and the best possible treatment at the government’s expense.
The Prime Minister also visited the Pakistan Movement Workers Complex and addressed the concluding session of a local summer camp organized by the Pakistan Trust in collaboration with the Pakistan Movement Workers Trust. Advisor on Security to the P.M. Rahman Malik, Dr. Javed Iqbal and Majid Nizami were among those present.

Wellness and Hi-tea
Sukh Cha’n Wellness Club has been organizing, and continues to hold, interactive lectures by eminent personalities of their respective fields for information, guidance, knowledge and help for its ever growing number of members and their guests. Such interactive lectures are held every month at the SCWC’s Auditorium, which is also a mini cinema hall as such. Those attending the interactive lectures are afterwards entertained to hi-tea during which the guest speakers also answer queries from the audience members. Prominent psychiatrist, Professor Dr Sa’ad B. Malik delivered an interesting, illuminating and useful lecture on “How to Improve Your Decision Making Skills.”

Unions and Labour
Whenever workers’ struggle for their rights is mentioned, the name of veteran trade union leader, Bashir Ahmad Khan Bakhtiar, would be mentioned prominently. In his lifetime, Bakhtiar Labour Hall was constructed on Nisbet Road to provide a central place for trade union activities to the working class. Meetings and seminars of national and international character are held at the Labour Hall quite frequently. Last week, Bakhtiar Labour Hall was the venue for the Triennial Moot of the Pakistan Workers Federation. It was participated and addressed by the ILO’s Dongfinglin Li, General Secretary ITUC-AP Noriyuki Suzuki and the Federation’s General Secretary, Khurshid Ahmad, among others.

Madar-e-Millat Remembered
Tributes continue to be paid to Madar-e-Millat Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, whose 41st death anniversary was recently observed with due respect and reverence at seminars and meetings organized by various organizations. One such seminar was held under the auspices of the Lahore High Court Bar Association at its Shuhda-e-Karachi Hall and addressed by a number of lawyers. They recalled the invaluable services and contributions of the Madar-e-Millat to the cause of democracy, women’s socio-economic uplift and in the struggle for the creation of Pakistan along with her illustrious brother, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Prime Minister’s Gold Cup
The first Prime Minister’s Gold Cup Women’s Hockey Tournament was played under the auspices of the Pakistan Hockey Federation Women’s Wing at the National Hockey Stadium. It was participated in by young girls’ teams from the Punjab, Sindh, NWFP, Balochistan and Islamabad and the trophy was won by the Punjab girls who outplayed the girls from Sindh in the final.