PESHAWAR: The `misuse` of the provincial capital`s only cultural hall, Nishtar Hall, by the ruling parties for their political activities is likely to come to an end as standard operating procedures for it have been approved and being implemented by the culture department for the first time.

`Only functions of the special persons, orphans, minorities and government departments observing national days here would be enjoying exemption of fee, if they request so,` officials, who formulated these SOPs, told Dawn.

According to the newly devised SOPs, fee exemption up to 100 per cent in reservation has been allowed subject to approval of the culture secretary in programmes for special people, orphans and minorities, including events conducted for a noble cause.

`There shall be no reservations for free to any individual or organisation except the above stated categories,` officials said.

The SOPs have been devised to introduce a uniform process for reservation of Nishtar Hall and its allied facilities.

The purpose of these SOPs was to streamline the booking process, make it transparent to promote cultural activities and utilise it to its full capacity, officials said.

Since the inauguration of Nishtar Hall in 1988, it has been a hub of various cultural activities as it is the only facility of its kind in the province. There was a lot of demand from the private sector to rent it out for holding cultural, social, educational and commercial activities.

It is pertinent to mention here that in the past, owing to absence of clear-cut SOPs, Nishtar Hall was defamed as a place where vulgar music and dance shows were held by private sector and later political parties, especially Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal, which ruled the province, used it for its own political and religious gatherings than cultural activities.

`To ensure proper management, standard operating procedure is the utmost need to be developed for the efficient and smooth function of the hall and its premises,` officials said.

The SOPs state that the hall shall primarily be used for holding cultural programmes while the gallery shall be used for exhibitions like cultural, traditional, painting trade agricultural and industrial exhibitions and health activities and the open space/lawn shall be reserved for food festivals and funfairs etc.

The culture directorate has also imposed a ban on political gatherings at Nishtar Hall and only stage dramas, programmes on orphans and special persons, human rights, Independence Day, Rabiul Awal, poetry sessions, exhibitions of gemstones, handicraf ts and folk music would be allowed at thelone culturalvenue ofthe province.

According to the culture directorate, Nishtar Hall would be rented out at different rates, depending on the nature of programme and seasons. The schedule of programmes would be divided into seasons -winter and summer.

The winter season would start from November 1 and last till April 30 while summer would begin on May 1 and conclude on October 30.

The organisations, associations, unions and individuals would be required to book the hall for their respective programmes and exhibitions 15 days ago. Twenty five per cent of the rent would be paid at booking time while the rest would be paid on the event day, officials said.