LAHORE: The need for stronger collaboration between the business community and cultural institutions to promote arts, culture and creative industries was stressed by Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Senior Vice President Sardar Usman Ghani.
He was speaking during a meeting with a 20-member delegation of Aesthetic Circle and the Pakistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (APCDF), led by Amina Ehtisham, at the Lahore Chamber. LCCI Executive Committee Member Malik Zaman Naseeb was also present.
Mr Ghani proposed developing miniature models of Lahore’s historic buildings and promoting them internationally as a distinctive non-traditional creative sector, saying that this initiative could showcase Pakistan’s cultural heritage while creating new economic opportunities for art-ists and creative professionals.
He said that non-traditional creative sectors, particularly miniature art, offered considerable potential and deserved greater recognition at the international level. He said Lahore’s historic buildings, with their distinctive architecture and cultural significance, could serve as excellent subjects for miniature artists. Well-crafted miniature models of these landmarks could be showcased at international exhibitions, cultural events and other global platforms, introducing Pakistan’s architectural heritage to a wider audience, he added.
He said arts and culture were integral to a society’s identity and heritage. Creative activities not only contributed to social development but also provided an effective means of projecting the country’s positive image internationally. He stressed that artists, creative professionals and young talent should be connected with the business community to provide them with better opportuni-ties for showcasing their work, developing commercial linkages and expanding their activities.
Highlighting the importance of intellectual property protection, the LCCI senior vice president said effective implementation of the Copyright Act and protection of intellectual property rights were essential for safeguarding creative work. Artists and creators must receive due recognition and legal protection against unauthorised copying and use of their work.
Greater awareness and enforcement of intellectual property rights would encourage creativity, protect the interests of artists and help attract investment into creative industries, he added.
Mr Ghani further said that documentaries could play an important role in highlighting the significance of arts and cultural activities, the contributions of artists and the work of relevant institutions. He said such documentaries could help introduce Pakistan’s cultural heritage, traditional arts and creative poten-tial to a wider audience, while also familiarising younger generations with the country’s historical and cultural assets.
During the meeting, participants held detailed discussions on promoting arts, culture, fine arts, cultural heritage and creative industries. They agreed that stronger linkages between cultural organisations and the business community could create new opportunities for artists, creators and emerging talent.
The participants expressed their commitment to strengthening joint initiatives and institutional cooperation for promoting arts and culture, encouraging creative activities, protecting the rights of artists and presenting Pakistan’s cultural heritage at the international level.
The delegation included Ehtisham ul Haq, Saadia, Shoaib, Sheeza Naveed, Saqib Akhtar, Ambreen Riaz, Sarah Niazi, Afshan Naz, Asma Chaudhry, Suroosh Tariq, Bilal Ahmed and Amina Ali, among others.