Artists' association for immediate release of endowment fund for struggling artists

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Feb, 2026) The Artist Welfare Association on Wednesday called on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority to immediately release the long-pending endowment fund for artists, warning that senior and veteran artists are facing severe financial hardship.

Speaking at a press conference here at Peshawar Press Club, association president and senior tv artist Ahmed Sajjad said that for the past nine years, the 50-crore rupees endowment fund announced during former Chief Minister Pervez Khattak’s tenure has remained in the authority’s accounts.

Initially, some artists received small payments of 30,000 rupees, but since then the fund has largely been inaccessible to deserving artists.

He highlighted the ongoing financial struggles of artists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, noting that with ptv airing only old dramas, Nishtar Hall closed to performers, and radio and theater opportunities scarce, many artists’ households are facing hardship.

“The Culture and Tourism Authority has stopped supporting genuine artists and is distributing the fund to unrelated individuals,” he said.

Prominent social figure Zubair Elahi emphasized that the provincial government should not push senior artists to the wall and must provide them financial assistance, noting that the fund is already with the authority and only needs proper release.

The press conference also included remarks from senior TV and stage artists, including Nadia Khan, who urged a thorough audit of the fund and transparent distribution to genuine artists while excluding unrelated individuals.

The association called on the government to ensure proper scrutiny of disbursements, provide financial relief to struggling artists, and revive cultural platforms such as PTV, radio, and theater spaces to support the artistic community of the province.