KARACHI: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah inaugurated the School of Visual and Performing Arts building at the Arts Council on December 1 evening during the World Culture Festival.
He first unveiled the plaque of the school and then went up the building to have a look at the different classrooms where students are taught. He then climbed the stage which was set in the Jaun Elia lawn.
Speaking on the occasion, he thanked the international artists, some of whom he had met prior to the speech, for coming to Karachi and hoped they’re enjoying being in the city. He congratulated the council’s President Ahmed Shah for arranging a bigger festival than last year.
The chief minister also thanked the artists suffering from Down syndrome, and had performed on Sunday evening. He said he was supposed to come to their event but unfortunately couldn’t be there. “I’m sure you the audience enjoyed your performance.”
Mr Shah said he was grateful to the Almighty Allah for bringing the city of lights to life. He added that Mr Ahmed Shah want to get a charter for a university. “You have to fulfil the requirements for the university and you will get it.”
Earlier, Ahmed Shah said he and his team never advertise the hard work that they put in. “Earlier, we didn’t have an infrastructure. We used to teach thousands of students for free.”
He said slowly they were able to get spaces for different art forms to teach. “We used to make things happen with just a single teacher. For example, we got the music teacher and said to him, ‘look we don’t have money, you’ll have to make do with it’.”
Mr Shah once again mentioned that the ongoing festival became possible with the help of the Sindh government and the artist community. He also extended his gratitude the volunteers coming from different educational institutions to help make the festival success.
Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2025.