'Art from the Heart' goes on display.

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) unveiled a solo exhibition "Art from the Heart", by Naela Chohan who uses the medium of visual arts to counter narratives against Islam, Pakistan and women in general by Muslim women in particular here Tuesday.

Ms. Chohan is one the Pakistani woman artists who dedicated herself for gender inequality issues. The artist is deeply inspired by Mrs. Samina Alvi, First lady of Pakistan 's commitment to creating awareness about Breast cancer which is serious issue globally.

First Lady, Samina Alvi inaugurated the show and shared the work done under the patronage of President Alvi and herself in the social sector, especially on breast cancer awareness, inclusion, and rights of persons with

disabilities, and issues related to mental health.

"Pakistan has the highest rate of breast cancer mortality and morbidity in Asia with

90,000 cases reported annually and more than 40,000 deaths. Due to the low health literacy, delay in the detection of early breast cancer is a serious growing concern for Pakistani women.

Cognizant of the issue, on our directions a structured country-wide mass awareness raising campaign was conducted through print, electronic and social media with the objective to sensitize women and girls about the early symptoms

and to urge them to conduct monthly breast self-examination.

We were successful in our endeavors as a recently conducted study, by a screening centre in a public sector hospital revealed that 32% of the respondents mentioned that media was their prime source of information on breast cancer and the reason for getting themselves screened," she said.

A career diplomat and women's rights advocate, Naela Chohan is an artist who has strived to create awareness about various social and humanitarian issues, particularly women's issues, around the world, including at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

Starting her career at Pakistan permanent mission at United Nations, New York, Naela realized the commonality of the women's problems which were specific to neither any race nor any religion.

Being a Pakistani and a Muslim woman, she was determined to use soft power ,in addition to her diplomatic training, to promote the image of her country and her religion through medium of visual art.

Although essentially a science student, Naela started her art training in Paris, France.She used this opportunity to do several courses.

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