Wajahat Atray musician will be given monthly stipend of Rs.25 thousand

Lahore: Parliamentary Secretary Information & Culture Rana Muhammad Arshad has said that on the direction of Punjab Chief Minister, a strategy is being evolved for promoting culture at basic level. He said that artists are our precious asset and ambassadors who are creating awareness in the society about different values through their art. He said that Punjab government has issued cheques of financial assistance to 143 new and old artists and a sum of rupees two crore fifty lakh has been released for them.

This was stated by him while presiding over a meeting in this regard here today.

Rana Muhammad Arshad said that dues of six months are being paid to the artists so that they should not face any problem in future. He said that payment is being made to 117 old and 26 new cases of the artists. While giving details, Rana Muhammad Arshad said that widows of Babu Baral and Ghayoor Akhtar are being given cheques for Rs.75000 each.

Rana Arshad said that monthly stipend of artists has also been enhanced, according to which, the stipend of Ustad Qamar uz Zaman has been increased from 15 thousand rupees to 25 thousand rupees, Ustad Abdul Latif from 10 thousand rupees to 20 thousand rupees, Ustad Ghulam Hussain from 20 thousand rupees to 25 thousand rupees, Yaqoob Atif alias Bulbala from 5 thousand rupees to 10 thousand rupees and their cheques have been issued.

According to the new list, Wajahat Atray musician will be given monthly stipend of Rs.25 thousand, Ghulam Mustafa Rs.20 thousand, Masood Akhtar Rs.25 thousand, Mujahid Hussain Rs.20 thousand and others will also be given stipend with the same ratio.

Rana Arshad said that Artists Fund-2010 has been set up on the direction of Chief Minister and it has gradually been increased from Rs. 2 crore to Rs.2.50 crore.