Karachi: Special Assistant to CM Sindh for Culture and Tourism Sharmila Farooqi chaired 15th meeting of Management board of Endowment Fund for needy Writers, Poets and Artists at Directorate Culture Karachi.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Culture Dr Niaz Ali Abbasi, DG Culture Manzoor Ahmed Kanasro, and other members of management board including Abdul Hameed Sindhi, Sarfaraz Rajar, Salahuddin Tunio, Naseer Baig, Shakeel Ahmed and Mazhar Jameel.
The board scrutinizes the applications received by Culture Department from needy and poor Artists, Writers and Poets from all over Sindh.
According to official statistics, total 148 fresh applications of artists and poets received at directorate of Culture Karachi from Sindh, in which 79 were approved. Total 7.25 million rupees will be distributed among the 79 beneficiaries selected in 15th meeting of Board.
While 66 applications of those artists who had availed or benefited with the facility of endowment fund, in past have been differed until next meeting. Priority has given to fresh applicants.
Farooqi expresses her satisfaction and informs that the system of endowment fund has been quite improved. More ideas and advices are under consideration for the betterment of this cause. She was of the view that provincial Culture Department is the custodian of endowment fund of artists and it is bound to maintain its transparency. Any advices and suggestions for the betterment of this system will be accepted by open heart.
Moreover, she appealed the artists, writers and poets to submit their prescribed pro-forma with complete necessary documents and proofs so that their cases could be considered positively. It has been noticed that several applications are in pending or deferred due to lack of some evidences. Their case authentication is depends over the provided supporting documents.
Abdul Majid Jahangir, Anwar Hussain Wistro, Ameer Bux urf Ustaad Ameer Ali, Aarab Muhammad, M Ishaq Urf Moji, Mst Zulekha widow of M. yousuf, Mst Sughra Widow of M Urs Bhatti, Ali Ahmed Jamali, Vakeel Faruqui and others are among the beneficiaries.