NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOLK & TRADITIONAL HERITAGE
History
The National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) was established in 1974 with the mandate for research, collection, documentation, communication, preservation and promotion of tangible and in-tangible heritage of the country.
Lok Virsa obtained the status of an autonomous organization through Ordinance promulgated by the Government of Pakistan on September 17, 2002.
Lok Virsa is governed by a Board of Governors headed by the Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage.
Executive Director is the overall in charge of all technical and administrative work of the institute.
Objectives of Lok Virsa
- Engage in research, systematic collection, documentation, scientific preservation, projection and dissemination of oral traditions, folklore and other aspects of indigenous cultural heritage.
- Strengthen and nurture the roots of Pakistani culture and achieve fundamental objectives regarding its re-discovery and re-interpretation to project the true identity of Pakistan.
- Establish cultural complexes and museums for the purpose of displaying living arts and crafts, cultural artifacts and rare objects from all parts of Pakistan.
- Establish cultural industries, art and craft galleries, artisan villages and hold and organize festivals.
- Retrieve advance knowledge from the general public for promotion of cultural heritage and cultural industries of Pakistan.
- Carry out studies, investigations, surveys, collect data to prepare feasibility report about schemes, projects and programs to the extent required for fulfilling the objectives.
- Arrange and provide training and technical assistance to its staff as well as participating NGOs and community-based organizations, educational institutions through training programs, purchase of existing services, workshops, seminars, publications and training programs, scholarships within Pakistan or in such other countries as the Board may deem appropriate.
- Improve knowledge, understanding and practices of different aspects of indigenous cultural heritage and devise ways and means for a broader dissemination through employment of modern media technology.
