LAHORE: One rarely finds programmes for children at the cultural scene of Punjab. Be it television, theatre, music or stage, onefeels the severe dearth ofthe representation of children on cultural fronts.

Amidst this unwelcoming state of affairs, Lahore has been hosting two stage plays Aladin Aur Jadoo Ka Charagh and Ainak Wala fin providing a great source of solace and enjoyment for younger lotforoveradecade orso.

Aladin Aur Jadoo Ka Charagh, a production by the Jamil Bismil Theatre, commonly known as JB productions, has been staged at Alhamra for the last four years in collaboration with Lahore Arts Council every Sunday from 6:30pm to 8: 30pm.

Director and writer of the weekly show Saleem Bismil told Dawn that his father, veteran actor Jamil Bismil, had laid the foundation of Children`s Theatre in Lahore in the 1960s.

He introduced the theatre in 1983 at Alhamra though in those times he used to do individual performances, he recalled. It was in 2013 that he regularly started to stage Aladin Aur Jadoo Ka Charagh at the Alhamra.As no advertisement for the show was done,just the word of mouth and social media platforms made the programme talk of the town. In the last four years, many children have got fascinated by the godly characters of the show which shows the power of theater to bring about positive changes in society. The play has also been staged in arts councils of Gujranwala, Gujrat, Murree and Rawalpindi, he added.

For this non-ticketed show, Alhamra provides a Rs17,000 grant per month.

Side by side, Aaink Wala Jin has also been staged at Alhamra forthe lasteightyears.

The play is basically derived from PTV`s popular show, aired from 1993 to 2000. Its characters like Zakoota Gin and Hamoon Jadoogar have retained popularity over the years. Originally, the play was written by legendary fiction writer A Hameed who wrote over 200 episodes of this play for television.

Now, for Alhamra, Haseeba Pasha wrote and directed the play.

Mr Pasha told this reporter that Ainak Wala Jin had been staged hundred of times not only at Alhamra but at different government programmes as well.

`Chief Minister (ShahbazSharif) through this play raised awareness on dengue and we did shows in all over Punjab,` he said.

`Similarly, as part of the National Action Plan, the play was staged in major cities of Punjab.

Mr Pasha said Ainak Wala Jinhad also been performed in front of Lady Diana when she came for the fund raising campaign of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital in Lahore.

The Lahore Arts Council gives financial assistance of Rs20,000 per month and free venue to theplay organisers.

Both Mr Bismil and Mr Pasha feel the need to hold more programmes for children by the Ministry of Culture so that children could find ample opportunities to show their talent in all genres of performing and visual arts.