NA Body recommends to adopt National Cultural Policy

ISLAMABAD, Dec 28 (APP): The Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage on Wednesday recommended to adopt National Cultural Policy with a view to preserve the national heritage.
A meeting of the Committee was held here at Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) premises with its Chairman Pir Muhammad Aslam Bodla in the chair.
Director General PNCA Syed Jamal Shah in his briefing told the meeting that although work had also been done in the past to formulate a draft of the national policy on culture but it had never been adopted.
“Almost all the countries in the world have their national policies on culture. But unfortunately we lack on this front. This is for the third time that a draft of the policy has been formulated. If adopted it will be a forward looking policy,” he said.
He said that suggestions of artists, teachers and experts from all the provinces had been incorporated in the new policy draft. “This draft has been prepared after a three-month hard work,” he said. Syed Jamal Shah requested the committee to support new proposed draft and help in its passage from the Parliament.
MNA Dr Muhammad Azhar Khan Jadoon assured to cooperate to adopt the new proposed draft.
The chairman of the committee and members while seconding Jadoon stated that they would play their role for adoption of National Cultural Policy.
Jamal Shah said after adoption of the policy, the PNCA would prepare a cultural curriculum with an aim to aware young generation about Pakistan’s true culture and its values.
Jamal Shah said there was a need to enhance resource base of PNCA adding there were some places in the Capital which were linked with art and culture but they were not being used for that purpose.
He requested the members of the committee to play their role in this regard stating that some buildings set up by CDA could be used for cultural activities.
The panel also took up the issue of discontinuation of pension to retired employees of PNCA,  Islamabad.
The director general PNCA informed the meeting that a letter had been written to the ministry of information, broadcasting and national heritage, seeking a permission for grant of pension to PNCA employees.
Secretary Information Saba Mohsin Raza informed the committee that the pension case of PNCA employees had been sent to ministry of finance for approval.
The Lok Virsa and PNCA officials also briefed the committee on the issues of entitlement of medical facilities and provision of house building advance to their employees.
Executive Director of Lok Virsa Dr Fouzia Saeed told the committee that the Lok Virsa employees  were availing medical facilities similar to that of government employees.
The chairman of the committee said the retired employees of Lok Virsa were suffering due to the pension issues hence the management should take steps to resolve these.
Earlier, MNA Waseem Akhtar Shaikh while referring to a private TV channel programme said his  character assassination had been done.
He urged that PEMRA should take action against anchorpersons who were involved in character assassination of parliamentarians.
While sharing her views on the issue, the secretary information said there were several issues on  which the ministry needed guidance from the committee.
She said PEMRA laws needed amendment adding that there were several laws on which the ministry was already working.