Gypsies have a beautiful and colourful culture:Raja Ashfaq Sarwar

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Labour and Human Resource, Raja Ashfaq Sarwar has said that gypsies are Pakistani citizens and have a beautiful and colourful culture. He said that Punjab government is utilizing all resources for the promotion of culture of Punjab besides giving an identity and necessary facilities to the gypsies.

He was talking to media-men on 2^nd day of Gypsy Mela at Children Library Complex, today. District Officer Labour Muhammad Naeem, DEO Social Welfare and Chief Executive Officer of an NGO ‘Godh’ Nazir Ahmad Ghazi and representatives of different labour organizations and NGOs were present on the occasion.

The Minister witnessed the stalls of handicrafts and garments prepared by the gypsies. The Minister lauded the skill of gypsies and also appreciated the quality of products at the stalls set up by different departments. He appreciated the efforts of Godh regarding identity and rights of gypsies. He said that according to their ancient tradition, gypsies move from one place to another due to which they have no permanent address and difficulty is faced in the issuance of identity cards to them. However, excellent work is being carried out for the registration of children of the gypsies and giving them Pakistani citizenship.

Gypsies from all over the country displayed their specific skills in multi-colour dresses and expressed their culture through their handicrafts, songs and skills. The aim of holding of this mela was to pinpoint the problems of the gypsies and their solution by the concerned departments.