Webinar calls for exploring new ways to support arts.

LAHORE -- The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) Pakistan on Wednesday hosted the second session of a webinar on the impact of Covid-19 on arts and craft in Pakistan.

ResiliArt is a global movement, initiated by Unesco at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is built around a series of virtual debates with experienced professionals in the creative and cultural industries to raise awareness about the devastating impact of this crisis on arts and culture around the world.

The second session of ResiliArt webinar focused on the impact of the pandemic on creative arts, crafts, publishing, cultural events, and tourism in Pakistan. Moderated by Moneeza Hashmi, the panel included professionals from both public and private institutions, including artist and educationist Salima Hashmi, Walled City of Lahore Authority Director General Kamran Lashari, Lahore Arts Council Arts and Culture Director Zulfiqar Ali Zulfi, Punjab Tourism for Economic Growth Project Programme Manager Waqas Malik, Punjab Council of the Arts Art and Culture Director Tanya Sani, Daachi Foundation Founder Member Ayesha Noorani and Ali Kamran from Sang-i-Meel Publications.

Unesco Pakistan Director Patricia McPhillips opened the discussion and spoke of how the diverse heritage of Pakistan provided a fertile base for cultural and creative industries, with great potential for sustainable and responsible tourism. She highlighted some of the...