Senate Panel Calls For Revival Of PNCA, Lok Virsa, NBF

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22th August, 2016) : Senate Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage on Monday called for revival of the institutions like Pakistan National Council of the Arts, Lok Virsa and National Book Foundation. The issue was raised by Syed Shibli Faraz who attended the meeting on special invitation. Shibli Faraz said that it appears that the above mentioned institution have failed to fulfil the mandate given to them. He said that these institutions have been unable to serve art, culture and literature as 90 per cent of their budgetary allocations are spent on salaries.

He said that the committee should recommend for allocation of more funds for the Lok Virsa, PNCA and NBF. Mushahidullah Khan said that the nations which do not pay attention towards art, culture and literature, they make no progress and face extinction. He said that a committee comprising eminent literary figures of the country should be constituted to present recommendations for revival of the Lok Virsa, PNCA and NBF. Chairman of the committee Kamil Ali Agha said that despite assurances by the former secretary IB&NH, retired employees of the Lok Virsa were not being paid pensions with huge cuts.