Latest news with #NationalInstituteofFolkandTraditionalHeritage
Express Tribune
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Cultural display highlights Meo identity
The National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) has established a new cultural diorama dedicated to the "Meo community" at the Pakistan National Museum of Ethnology – Heritage Museum, showcasing the unique history, culture, and traditions of the Meo community, an important ethnolinguistic group within the diverse cultural landscape of Pakistan. Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi inaugurated the display. In his remarks, the minister said: "The Meo community is a vibrant and integral part of Pakistan's cultural mosaic. Their rich heritage, values of resilience, and contributions to local traditions deserve to be celebrated and preserved. The creation of this cultural diorama at Lok Virsa is a commendable step towards acknowledging and honouring our diverse identities". This initiative not only documents the living culture of a historic community but also reaffirms the government's commitment to cultural inclusion and national unity, he maintained. The minister congratulated Lok Virsa for consistently promoting the voices of underrepresented communities through creative and meaningful platforms. Farah Naz Akbar, Parliamentary secretary, Asad Rehman Gilani, secretary, and a large number of people from the community attended the event. This display is an example of community engagement, as the display has been sponsored by the community. Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Dr Muhammad Waqas Saleem, Executive Director, Lok Virsa stated: "This diorama is part of Lok Virsa's ongoing commitment to inclusivity in cultural representation.
Express Tribune
26-02-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
Series of seminar on 'Folk Legends of Pakistan' launched
The National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa), in collaboration with the Center of Excellence in Gender Studies (CEGS) at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, launched a series of seminar titled "Folk Legends of Pakistan" with a focus on Bibi Nani, a revered folk legend from Balochistan. The event, held at the School of Sociology auditorium, featured a distinguished cultural expert and researcher, Pannah Baloch, as the keynote speaker. Baloch delivered an insightful presentation on Bibi Nani's historical, cultural, and symbolic significance within Baloch tradition, emphasising her role as a symbol of resilience, wisdom, and feminine power in Balochistan's oral narratives. CEGS Director, Dr Aisha Anees Malik, moderated the session and skillfully guided the dialogue toward exploring intersections between folk heritage, gender dynamics, and contemporary identity-building in Pakistan. She highlighted the importance of preserving folklore like Bibi Nani's to challenge stereotypes and promote social cohesion. Lok Virsa Director of Research, Dr Muhammad Waqas Saleem reiterated Lok Virsa's commitment to safeguarding Pakistan's intangible cultural heritage.
