By Syed Ali Shah

Dawn : 22 – 9 - 2015

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, at a function organised on Wednesday in connection with the Pashtoon Cultural Day, termed promotion of culture and language as “imperative for development and prosperity” of every society.

The Pashtoon Cultural Day was celebrated at an event organised at the premises of Metropolitan Corporation, with the Balochistan CM as the chief guest.

Attendees of the cultural event wore traditional Pashtoon turbans, while young participants also danced to folk drum beats.

“Promote culture and eradicate the curse of hatred from society,” the chief minister said during his speech.

Dr Malik Baloch said the promotion of Balochi, Brahvi and Pashto languages and culture was the “need of the hour” and urged political parties and members of the civil society to play their roles in this regard.

Earlier it was reported by Dawn.com that the recently concluded World Pashto Conference had decided to celebrate September 23 as Pashtoon Cultural Day.

Authors, writers, poets, political figures and journalists from various countries had participated in the conference to discuss means of developing the Pashto language.

“We are trying to promote soft-image of Pashtoons,” Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal, Balochistan's information minister, told the crowd, adding that the cultural day celebration was a positive stride towards promotion of Pashtoon culture and language.

Among those who attended the program were provincial ministers Rahim Ziaratwal, Dr Hamid Achakzai, Sardar Raza Muhammad Bareech and Quetta Mayor Dr Kaleemullah.

Apart from political leaders, poets, authors, intellectuals and others also participated in the cultural gathering with zeal and enthusiasm.