Karachi: The first meeting of the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi’s Governing Body was convened on Sunday under the leadership of President Mohammad Ahmed Shah. The session marked a pivotal moment in the Council’s efforts to enhance its role in promoting cultural activities nationwide. The Governing Body approved the formation of 17 sub-committees and selected five co-opted members to advance the Council’s mission.
According to a statement by Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, the newly selected co-opted members include prominent individuals such as scholar Dr. Jaffer Ahmed, educationalist Alya Iqbal Naqvi, anchorperson Wasim Badami, social figure Chand Gul Shah, and businessman Ghouse Akbar, who also serves as the Honorary Consul General of Spain. Their inclusion was unanimously approved during the meeting.
President Mohammad Ahmed Shah’s leadership was credited for the Council’s growth, transforming it into the country’s largest institution for promoting art and culture. The members of the Governing Body offered suggestions for further improvements and highlighted the importance of the Council’s role in reducing societal tensions.
Among the newly established committees, Dr. Huma Mir will join the Administration and Member Liaison Committee, while Dr. S.M. Qaisar Sajjad will oversee the Medical and Social Welfare Committee. Additional committee appointments include Mohammad Iqbal Latif for the Special Event and Stage Show Committee, Dr. Ambareen Hasib Amber for the Literary and Poetry Committee, and Ghazi Salah Uddin for the Press and Publication Committee.
Other committee members include Syed Sajid Hasan for Drama, Muhammad Ayoub Shaikh for Folk and Heritage, Akhlaq Ahmed Khan for Literature Fiction, and Amjad Hussain Shah for Music. Abdullah Sultan will lead the Youth Committee, with Farrukh Tanveer Shahab managing the Fine Arts Committee. Dr. Amjad Siraj Memon will head the Health Awareness Committee, and Dr. Jaffer Ahmed will oversee the Research, Documentation and Library Committee.
Further roles have been assigned to Alya Iqbal Naqvi in the Education Committee, Wasim Badami in the Electronic Media Committee, Chand Gul Shah in the Women Empowerment Committee, and Ghouse Akbar in the Diplomatic and Corporate Liaison Committee. These appointments aim to strengthen the Arts Council’s impact across multiple domains.