Lahore (Showbiz Desk): Punjab Government has launched a special fund of Rs 500 million to provide financial support to deserving artists. The initiative, organized under the Punjab Artist Service Card, aims to improve the lives of artists.
Eligible artists will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 5,000, and in the initial phase, 63 artists were given Rs 15,000 each. Payments will be processed through Bank of Punjab. Applications for the program were invited at the beginning of the year, with a total of 2,702 submissions received. After scrutiny under the program’s rules, 1,831 artists were deemed eligible, and their data was shared with the Punjab Social Protection Authority.
Additional financial assistance for eligible artists includes an education grant of Rs 300,000, a medical grant of Rs 200,000, and other support amounting to Rs 100,000. Moreover, a monthly pension of Rs 10,000 to 15,000 is being considered for artists over 80 years old, and a relief scheme is being planned for artists over 54 years old.
This initiative is being hailed as a step toward improving the quality of life for artists and alleviating their financial difficulties.
