Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi has said that the government is taking special measures to preserve rare, traditional and endangered forms of art and ensure their transmission to future generations, with efforts also underway in collaboration with UNESCO.
The Minister expressed these views while meeting artists nominated for the Lok Virsa and Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) National Awards 2026. He congratulated all the selected artists and said the recognition was a matter of pride not only for the recipients but also for their families, respective fields and the country as a whole.
Aurangzeb Khan Khichi said the nominated artists had been selected purely on the basis of merit and artistic excellence.
He noted that a significant number of young artists had also been selected for the National Awards this year as per vision of Prime Minister, describing the inclusion of young talent as an important step towards promoting arts and culture among the younger generation.
The Minister emphasized that Pakistan’s rare and endangered arts are not merely artistic traditions but an integral part of the country’s identity, history and cultural heritage. He said the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture, Lok Virsa and PNCA would further strengthen efforts for the preservation, documentation and intergenerational transmission of traditional arts and crafts.
He urged artists to actively participate in the activities of Lok Virsa and PNCA and demonstrate their skills so that the public could gain greater awareness of the unique and endangered artistic traditions found across different regions of Pakistan. He added that the government would also consider these artists for opportunities to represent Pakistan at international events.
The Federal Minister particularly appreciated the performance and achievements of women artists selected for the National Awards. He said the Ministry was making special efforts to identify talented women from across the country, showcase their artistic abilities and provide them with greater opportunities for advancement. Pakistani women, he noted, were demonstrating exceptional talent in arts and crafts, embroidery, design, drama, calligraphy, music and other fields.
Khichi also appreciated the teams of Lok Virsa and PNCA for giving priority to merit and following a transparent process in finalizing the artists for the awards. He said suggestions put forward by artists would be given due consideration and practical proposals aimed at further improving the institutions would be pursued.
Federal Secretary for National Heritage and Culture Asad Rehman Gilani said the selection for the National Awards had been conducted entirely on merit. He explained that several candidates had been dropped at different stages of the selection process, while the final names were determined after reviews by various committees, consultation with the provinces and recommendations from relevant institutions. The Federal Minister, he added, had also conducted a thorough scrutiny of the nominations.
The Federal Secretary said the nominated artists were genuinely accomplished and hardworking professionals who had earned the recognition through their talent and contributions. He said the National Awards are announced on August 14, while the awards ceremony is held on March 23.
During the meeting, nominated artists from different parts of Pakistan, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir, introduced themselves and briefed the Minister about their respective artistic disciplines and contributions. The artists thanked Lok Virsa, PNCA, the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture, Federal Minister Aurangzeb Khan Khichi and Federal Secretary Asad Rehman Gilani for selecting them on merit.
The artists also offered their services to the Government of Pakistan and relevant institutions and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting Pakistan’s cultural heritage, safeguarding rare and endangered arts, and helping pass traditional skills and knowledge on to future generations.
