Islamabad
0333 53 63 248
mahtabbashir@gmail.com
The National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage, popularly known as Lok Virsa, was established in 1974 as Pakistan’s premier institution for the preservation, documentation and promotion of the country’s rich folk and traditional heritage.
Conceived under the vision of renowned folklorist Uxi Mufti, who played a leading role in its establishment, Lok Virsa was created to undertake field research, collect and document folklore, preserve oral traditions, conduct cultural studies and promote Pakistan’s diverse indigenous heritage.
Over the years, Lok Virsa has evolved into a multidisciplinary cultural institution with a broad national mandate. To strengthen its legal status, expand its scope of work and enable it to generate resources beyond government grants, the institution was granted autonomous status through an ordinance promulgated by the President on September 17, 2002.
One of Lok Virsa’s landmark achievements has been the establishment of Pakistan’s first Heritage (Ethnological) Museum, which presents the country's cultural diversity through life-sized dioramas, traditional crafts, architecture, music and folk traditions.
At its inauguration, the President directed that the museum should be fully utilised by students and research scholars to deepen their understanding of Pakistan’s cultural heritage. In response, Lok Virsa developed plans to transform the museum from a static exhibition space into a vibrant educational and research facility.
Within a decade of its establishment, Lok Virsa grew from a modest folklore initiative into a comprehensive cultural complex representing the traditions of all regions of Pakistan.
To further strengthen its educational role, the institution launched a three-year Museum Educational Programme and Expansion of Public Facilities Plan aimed at enhancing research opportunities and public engagement.
Under its educational outreach programme, the Heritage Museum collaborates with leading universities and higher education institutions, including Fatima Jinnah Women University, Quaid-i-Azam University, the University of the Punjab, Bahauddin Zakariya University, the University of Peshawar, the International Islamic University and the National College of Arts.
The programme supports students pursuing MSc and MPhil degrees by facilitating field research and providing financial assistance for studies in remote areas of the country.
Lok Virsa also operates an Annual Skilled Training Programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and its affiliated organisations.
The Pakistan National Museum of Ethnology, established as an extension of Lok Virsa’s existing facilities, remains one of the institution’s flagship projects. Developed under the guidance of Uxi Mufti, then Executive Director of Lok Virsa, with the support of a dedicated team of professionals, the museum has become a major cultural landmark in Islamabad.
Today, Lok Virsa continues to serve as Pakistan’s foremost institution for safeguarding, researching and promoting the country's tangible and intangible cultural heritage while combining conservation, education, research and public engagement under one umbrella.
Published in Daily The Post on 6th Feb, 2006
mahtabbashir@gmail.com
The National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage, popularly known as Lok Virsa, was established in 1974 as Pakistan’s premier institution for the preservation, documentation and promotion of the country’s rich folk and traditional heritage.
Over the years, Lok Virsa has evolved into a multidisciplinary cultural institution with a broad national mandate. To strengthen its legal status, expand its scope of work and enable it to generate resources beyond government grants, the institution was granted autonomous status through an ordinance promulgated by the President on September 17, 2002.
One of Lok Virsa’s landmark achievements has been the establishment of Pakistan’s first Heritage (Ethnological) Museum, which presents the country's cultural diversity through life-sized dioramas, traditional crafts, architecture, music and folk traditions.
At its inauguration, the President directed that the museum should be fully utilised by students and research scholars to deepen their understanding of Pakistan’s cultural heritage. In response, Lok Virsa developed plans to transform the museum from a static exhibition space into a vibrant educational and research facility.
To further strengthen its educational role, the institution launched a three-year Museum Educational Programme and Expansion of Public Facilities Plan aimed at enhancing research opportunities and public engagement.
Under its educational outreach programme, the Heritage Museum collaborates with leading universities and higher education institutions, including Fatima Jinnah Women University, Quaid-i-Azam University, the University of the Punjab, Bahauddin Zakariya University, the University of Peshawar, the International Islamic University and the National College of Arts.
The programme supports students pursuing MSc and MPhil degrees by facilitating field research and providing financial assistance for studies in remote areas of the country.
The initiative invites master artisans and recipients of the President’s Pride of Performance Award to conduct workshops, ensuring that traditional crafts and indigenous skills are passed on to younger generations.
To promote Pakistan’s handicrafts and support artisans economically, the institution organises an annual 10-day Artisans-at-Work and Craft Bazaar. The event provides master craftsmen from across the country with an opportunity to demonstrate and sell their work directly to the public without the involvement of middlemen.
To promote Pakistan’s handicrafts and support artisans economically, the institution organises an annual 10-day Artisans-at-Work and Craft Bazaar. The event provides master craftsmen from across the country with an opportunity to demonstrate and sell their work directly to the public without the involvement of middlemen.
Besides preserving traditional craftsmanship, the festival contributes to Lok Virsa’s efforts to develop sustainable revenue streams through cultural activities and public participation.
As part of its international outreach, Lok Virsa also facilitates collaboration with foreign scholars by inviting researchers from leading universities around the world to undertake original studies on Pakistan’s culture and society. The initiative promotes academic exchange while projecting a positive image of Pakistan’s cultural heritage internationally.
As part of its international outreach, Lok Virsa also facilitates collaboration with foreign scholars by inviting researchers from leading universities around the world to undertake original studies on Pakistan’s culture and society. The initiative promotes academic exchange while projecting a positive image of Pakistan’s cultural heritage internationally.
Today, Lok Virsa continues to serve as Pakistan’s foremost institution for safeguarding, researching and promoting the country's tangible and intangible cultural heritage while combining conservation, education, research and public engagement under one umbrella.
Published in Daily The Post on 6th Feb, 2006
No comments:
Post a Comment