Consultative Meeting with Deputy Director Culture & Tourism Authority

Peshawar – 26 January | Nishtar Hall

A consultative meeting of leading art and culture stakeholders was held with Ms. Hassina Shaukat, Deputy Director of the Culture & Tourism Authority, at Nishtar Hall, Peshawar.

The delegation included Najeeb Ullah Anjum, Bushra Farukh, Aziz Ejaz, Shazma Haleem, Sajjad Orakzai, Khalid Khattak, and Arshad Hussain — all prominent contributors to the cultural landscape of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Participants discussed the challenges faced by the cultural sector and emphasized the importance of freedom of cultural expression, policy clarity, and a strong cultural narrative focused on revival, preservation, and promotion of heritage in the province.

Ms. Hassina Shaukat assured her full support for the promotion of arts and culture, highlighting the role of culture in countering extremism, reducing social conflicts, and presenting the peaceful and diverse identity of the region.

Key recommendations shared during the meeting included support for performing and visual arts, preservation of heritage and artifacts, artist welfare systems, cultural scholarships, revival of Nishtar Hall, establishment of art spaces and studios, implementation of the 2018 Culture Policy, and development of a structured cultural events calendar.

The Deputy Director appreciated the valuable input and reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to continued consultation with relevant stakeholders. The participants thanked Ms. Hassina Shaukat for the warm welcome and constructive dialogue.