Culture department to exhibit cultural heritage of KP

The Culture Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Kp) is preparing inventory for Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of the province for listing of all festivals, traditions, games, languages, literature, folklores, food and local norms.

“The inventory will be completed in first week of June, 2017 and the list will be displayed at the website of Culture department,” said Deputy Director Culture Department KP Shabaz Khan while talking with newsmen on Wednesday.

It is for the first time that inventory of ICH KP is prepared in accordance with international law and as per requirement of UNESCO, Shabaz claimed.

In the initial stage of the inventory, 10 languages of KP are listed in addition to mentioning of five literary personalities of the province including Khushal Khan Khattak and Rehman Baba.

Shabaz Khan said the department is also contemplating over constitution of a committee for inscription of literary book ‘Baz Nama’ of Khushal Khan Khattak in ‘memory of the world register’.

The committee will constitute members from literary figures, media men, civil society and government officials, he added.

Deputy Director Culture Department also disclosed that for the first time in the history of South Asia the department is preparing an android app of ‘Langarey’, a traditional game of KP which is on verge of disappearance.

The objective behind preparation of android app of an old game is to introduce it to our new generation who mostly prefer playing on mobiles and computers. Furthermore, the measure will also help in the preservation of the traditional game of the region.

Shabaz Khan said culture department wanted to promote the real face of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and for this purpose; the department also participated in an exhibition about cultural arts of Peshawar held at headquarters of British Council at London.

The department has also prepared business plan for the revival of sagging arts of the region including metal engraving, handicrafts, pottery work and wood engraving.

In response to the question about preparation of documentaries on different cultures of the province, deputy director said department is working for extending support in this regard, but this is the job of private sector.

He said any documentary prepared by a private production house can be presented for exhibition at international level.

He also agreed to the steps for revival of film industry, but quickly added that producers had to improve film standards.

He further informed newsmen that a permanent art gallery would be set up at Nishtar Hall Peshawar where artisans of different arts could display their artifacts.

While replying to a question, Shabaz Khan said Culture Department has prepared draft of the culture department and forwarded it to the administrative department for further action for approval by the provincial cabinet.