Rawalpindi, The Punjab Arts Council (PAC) recently held divisional level painting competitions at the Arts Council, Rawalpindi, as part of the first Punjab Painting Competition 2024. Directed by the Punjab Arts Council’s Director General, Syed Bilal Haider, the competition saw the participation of winners from district-level contests in Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Murree, and Rawalpindi. Assistant Commissioner Coordination Rawalpindi, Shabana Nazir, graced the prize distribution ceremony as the chief guest.

According to Punjab Arts Council, Shabana Nazir emphasized the unique roles of writers and painters as nature’s gifts for expression. She highlighted how painters use colors to reflect nature, emotions, and societal realities, thereby bringing people closer and serving as a medium for nature’s expression. Deputy Director Muhammad Shakoor added that the innate human passion for creation fuels such artistic endeavors, noting that Pakistani painters exhibit confidence, conviction, and awareness through their work.

The competition aimed to nurture creative growth among the youth and provide a platform for exposing artists and audiences to the art world. Judges for the competition included Ahmed Habib, Saima Amir, and Zarar Haider Babri.

Sara Hafeez, Abdul Hadi, and Aymen Azmat Butt secured the first, second, and third positions, respectively, in the Rawalpindi division competitions. The chief guest awarded cheques and appreciation certificates to the winners, setting the stage for the provincial level competition scheduled to take place at the Open Air Theater in Lahore on March 8.

The event underscores the Punjab Arts Council’s commitment to fostering artistic talent and providing young artists with opportunities to showcase their work on larger platforms.