A literary and cultural organization, Gandhara Hindko Board, has started efforts for improving the quality singing and music by arranging events for the youth.
According to a press release issued here on Monday, the board will provide a platform to the amateur young singers by inviting them to perform at contests in the presence of music experts. In this regard a maiden event "Hindko Jhankaar" was arranged at the Gandhara Hindko Academy.
A research assistant at the academy and young artist, Zeeshan Ghaznavi, coordinated the programme. Broadcaster and singer, Ahmad Nadeem Awan, was the co-organiser. An acknowledged lyricist, Syed Saeed Gillani, music teacher, Zulfiqar Bhatti, and singers, Saeed Parisand Sitara Younas, were on the panel judges.
A total of 30 youth from Peshawar, Kohat, Abbottabad, Mansehra and Islamabad took part in the competition. They sung songs in Hindko and other Pakistani languages and won praise for the talent. Several people from various walks of life turned up at the function.
Some among them were a noted cultural activists including Gandhara Hindko Board Vice-Chairman, Dr Salahuddin, senior bureaucrat, Syed Kamran Shah, business community representative, Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, senior lawyer, Tasleem Hussain, Muhammad Naeem, a literatus from Hazara division, television producer, Qazi Junaid, and Nazeer Ahmad, a writer and author.
Muhammad Kashif of Islamabad was adjudged the best. Ali Abdullah from Kohat won the second position. Muhammad Aakif and Gopal of Peshawar claimed third and fourth slots. Ms Farah Wakeel from Peshawar received a special prize.
The other wining participants were awarded cash prizes and certificates. The audience was excited when two judges -- Zulfiqar Bhatti and Sitara Younas- and event organizer, Zeeshan Ghaznavi, performed at the end of the competition.
Ahmad Nadeem Awan said more such events would be arranged to encourage the youth to display the singing talent that would ultimately lead to improvement of the Hindko singing and music quality. It is worth mentioning here that Hindko is among the nine officially designated languages of the pakistan.
Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi, Seraiki, Kashmiri and Brahvi are the other languages. The Gandhara Hindko Board has been working for preservation and promotion of Hindko language since its launch in 1993. The Gandhara Hindko Academy became functional on April 14, 2015. The board runs the academy in partnership with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.
