Art and artists are given little importance in the country. Artists are treated shabbily even at government level
The Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Mr Altaf Hussain has said if talent is recognized in the country, and able and qualified people are given the position they deserve, no one would leave the country and settle abroad. They would remain in the country and serve the nation. He said this while talking to the prominent radio and TV artist of the past Neelofar Abbasi, her husband and former senior producer of the Radio Pakistan Mr Qamar Ali Abbasi, and famous actress Ms Zeba Bakhtiar on the telephone. Mrs Abbasi has been living with her husband and other members of her family in New York for many years.
Mr Hussain said that no society could become complete without fine arts and music, painting, literature, and journalism play a pivotal role in the development and progress of a nation. Living nations value the people who perform outstandingly in different genres of art and use their abilities in promoting knowledge and art in the younger generations.
He regretted that the art and the artists were given little importance in Pakistan. The artists are treated shabbily at the government level as well. It is because of lack of recognition, discouragement and unfair treatment that a large number of artists are forced to live in penury. Some are settled in foreign countries by force of circumstances.
He said that no one leaves his country out of his own free will. It is the force of circumstance that makes them leave their city and their country. Neelofar Abbasi spent many years of her life in the service of art and brought the drama at its heights. People still cherish the memories of her excellent dramas. Her husband Qamar Ali Abbasi also spent many years in the service of art. It is highly unfortunate that they are living abroad because of unfair treatment back at home.
He said that able and qualified people should be brought forward for serving the country. If the people at the helm of affairs continued to look at talent with disdain, the outflow of talent to foreign countries would continue unstoppably and the country would also move backwards instead of moving ahead.
He paid tributes to Neelofar Abbasi, Qamar Ali Abbasi and Zeba Bakhtiar and said that the MQM would continue to do its bit in working for the welfare of artists.
Neelofar Abbasi, Qamar Ali Abbasi and Zeba Bakhtiar thanked appreciated the views of Mr Hussain and said that promotion of art and welfare of artists would not be possible unless the system of the country was in the hands of people who understood art.