PESHAWAR: The artists and performers gathered here on Monday to raise voice for their rights and vowed to use the art of music for addressing social issues.

The Music Welfare Society (MWS) conducted the event at a local music market in Nishatarabad to launch a campaign for creating awareness among artists regarding their rights and issues. `We would work not only for the welfare of the artists but would also contribute to society in solving social issues,` they said.

The participants of the event through a resolution demanded of the government to probe the alleged misappropriation of funds in the Hunar Mela recently held undertheauspicesof TourismCooperation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Peshawar.

Young singer Rashid Khan alleged that local artists were ignored and singers from Punjab were invited for performance. He said that authorities shouldlook into the matter so that the rights of local artists could be safeguarded.

Fitrat Buneri, a young Pashto poet, said that Pashto art of music was limited only to those, who hailed from music families but well qualified singers like Sardar Ali Takkar, Haroon Bacha, Karan Khan, Bakhtiar Khattak, Humayun Khan, Zeek Afridi, Waheed Achakzai, Rashid Khan, Fayyaz Kheshgi and many others were also part of the community.

The participants said that artists and singers would arrange music shows to raise funds for welfare of the poor artists and their children`s education and healthcare.

They said that artists could use their talent for educating youth to keep themselves away from anti-social activities.

`Music can be used as therapy for psychological disturbed people and for prompting the cause of peace education. It has a magical impact on hearts and minds of people,` they added.

Zahir Shah, chief of Music Welfare Society, said that many artists needed help. He said that artists and musicians could do much for their own community and also for the society at large.

Mr Shah said that after Eid, artists from Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat, Kohat, Mardan, Nowshera,Charsadda, Swat and Fata would be mobilised to plan a strategy for safeguarding their rights. He said that campaign for membership would be launched before holding fresh election of MWS.

Sarfaraz Khan, a young Pashto singer, said that the art of music could be utilised for peace education, environment awareness and anti-drugs drive. He said that unfortunately, cultural activities including music shows were equated with spreading of immoral andunhealthy habits among youth.

Senior folk singer Gul Sharaf Ustad, who chaired the event, said that artists, performers and singers should get united for their rights. He said that services of artists were not being recognised and general perception about the art and artists was always biased.

Waheed Achakzai in his remarks said that senior artists should come forward to make art a strong platform so that itcould be used for positive things. `Unless there is no unity among artists, their problems would never be solved and their rights would continue to be usurped,` he added.

Walidad Ustad said that artists could spread the message of love, peace and humanism.

He said that artists and singers despite odd situation and threats stood firm and remained connected to art.