The lack of appreciation for culture leads to the losses we witness today – Press Conference in Karachi
Staff Report
Karachi, Sindh
Jamal Shah, Caretaker Federal Minister of Culture and National Heritage, underlined on Saturday the importance of preserving native languages and culture and said that the culture is the only weapon to connect everyone.
“If we carry our culture with us and present it to the world, there would be a dynamics change,” he said and remarked that the lack of appreciation for culture leads to the losses we witness today.
Addressing a joint press conference with provincial caretaker minister of information Ahmed Shah at Arts Council Karachi, Jamal Shah said, “We have devised policies for promotion of Theater Academy and Music Academy under my supervision.”
He expressed hope for continued support from the upcoming government for these initiatives.
Jamal Shah also stressed the importance of language preservation, saying, “Our children are becoming estranged from their languages. While English poems are remembered, contact with Urdu and native languages is diminishing.”
“We are bringing together people of all languages in our institutions,” he said.
In a joint effort to promote cultural diversity, both ministers revealed plans for launching ‘Heritage TV,’ focusing on youth engagement and initiating calligraphy education in schools.
They also discussed review of cultural infrastructure, aiming to transform unused spaces in Islamabad into cultural corners.
“We also aim to develop 150 cinemas, accessible to the general public; we are striving to create cinemas that cater to a broader audience,” Jamal Shah said.
Concluding the briefing, Jamal Shah urged the importance of celebrating culture, stating, “We must celebrate our culture daily. We are in a constant struggle to reclaim our heritage. Every day should be Culture Day.”
Earlier, welcoming the federal minister, Muhammad Ahmed Shah said, “We are here today, two individuals with a common identity – culture and literature. By a stroke of fate, we both have become ministers. Jamal Shah, being the Federal Minister for Culture and National Heritage, and I, serving as the Provincial Minister for Information, Minority Affairs, and Social Protection.”
Acknowledging Jamal Shah’s contributions to the film industry and the arts, Ahmed Shah remarked, “Jamal Shah is well-known to all as a filmmaker, actor, and connoisseur of the arts. He recently visited Hyderabad, reinforcing the cultural bond with his presence.”
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