Artists Demand Transparency and Structural Reforms in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cultural Sector

The artist community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has repeatedly been informed that no sufficient budget exists for the welfare of artists or the promotion of cultural activities. However, at the same time, large scale events such as “Hunar Mela” are reportedly being organized through private event management companies, raising serious concerns regarding the priorities, transparency, and administrative direction of the Department of Culture.

It is deeply alarming that a substantial portion of the festival budget is allegedly being spent on venue arrangements, decoration, publicity campaigns, marketing, and event management, while only a minimal share is being allocated to the artists themselves, the very individuals for whom such initiatives are supposedly designed. This situation raises critical questions about the future direction of the province’s cultural policy and the absence of any meaningful long term strategy for the welfare, protection, and development of artists and cultural institutions.

In the interest of transparency and public accountability, the artist community demands that the following information be made public immediately:

Complete advertisement and procurement details related to the event

Tender notices and bidding documents

Agreement signed with the event management company

Total budget allocated for the festival

Detailed breakdown of all expenditures

Complete details of payments made to artists

Names, categories, and remuneration details of all participating artists

Serious concerns have also emerged regarding the Artist Endowment Fund. The funds allocated for artists have yet to be distributed during the current year. Last year, artists received cheques in June, but despite the arrival of May this year, no formal announcement or advertisement regarding the Endowment Fund has been issued. This unexplained delay has created uncertainty, frustration, and anxiety within the artist community.

The artist community respectfully calls upon the Honourable Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who also oversees the Culture Department, to publicly clarify what concrete and practical measures have been taken so far for the protection of artists, the promotion of cultural institutions, and the preservation of cultural heritage across the province.

At the same time, the Secretary of Tourism, Culture, Archaeology and Museums is expected to disclose details of all meetings and consultations held with artists, writers, intellectuals, and cultural stakeholders during his tenure. The public deserves to know to what extent the artistic and cultural community has genuinely been included in policy making and decision making processes.

The sudden transfer of DG Culture Muhammad Usman, who introduced several notable reforms within a short period, has also caused serious concern among artists, writers, and cultural circles.

Several longstanding issues continue to reflect administrative negligence and lack of seriousness toward the cultural sector:

Offices, basement areas, and sections of the library remain occupied by unusable and auctioned material for years without any meaningful action

The Art Gallery project at Nishtar Hall has remained incomplete and non functional for the last four years

During the spring season, artists repeatedly requested cultural festivals and activities but were informed that no budget was available. Ironically, the same festival is now being organized during extreme heat and humid weather conditions, exposing poor planning and administrative inconsistency

It is equally unfortunate and deeply troubling that cultural activities and artistic events in universities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are reportedly facing growing restrictions and undeclared barriers. Universities are not merely educational institutions; they are centres of intellectual, literary, ideological, and cultural expression. Suppressing cultural activities in academic institutions amounts to limiting the creative potential of the younger generation and disconnecting them from their language, music, literature, traditions, and cultural identity.

The government must encourage healthy, responsible, and constructive cultural activities within universities so that young people remain connected to their traditions, local languages, arts, and cultural heritage.

The artist community strongly demands transparency, serious policy making, effective planning, institutional reforms, and genuine respect for art and culture.

Furthermore, the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is urged to reconsider the existing arrangement under which the Department of Culture functions under the umbrella of Tourism. Artists and cultural stakeholders firmly believe that culture requires an independent identity, professional vision, and dedicated strategy. It cannot continue to operate merely as a subsidiary branch of tourism.

Unfortunately, under the current structure, neither tourism has achieved the expected progress nor has the cultural sector received the policy attention, resources, and institutional importance it urgently requires. On the contrary, the fields of fine arts, literature, music, cultural heritage, and artist welfare have continued to weaken.

Culture is not merely entertainment or a tourism attraction. It represents the identity, history, language, values, thought, and collective spirit of the province. It must therefore be treated as an autonomous, active, and priority sector where artists, writers, musicians, students, and cultural personalities are respectfully included in every stage of consultation and policy formation.