ISLAMABAD:,,, Caretaker Minister for National Heritage and Culture Jamal Shah has said Lok Mela, being started on Friday, will be a greater source of establishing national cohesion and promoting cultural diversity besides providing quality entertainment to the people.

Addressing a press conference here in Islamabad on Wednesday, he said the rich culture and traditions of all the four provinces in addition to the Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir will be presented in the Lok Mela in a befitting manner.

The Minister said handicrafts, art work and leather work will be the great source of the attention of visitors. In order to enthrall the audience, Jamal Shah said the Lok music of all provinces will be presented. He said food stalls will offer variety of traditional foods of all parts of the country to the people.

Terming such festivals as instrumental of projecting the talent of budding artists, the Minister urged to revive the cultural and traditional festivals in all parts of country.

Expressing sorrow over the massacre of innocent Palestinians by Israel, Jamal Shah announced all the events of festival will be held in the expression of solidarity with the people of Palestine.

The Minister further said a specific stall will be reserved for the collection of funds for Palestine and the Ministry is in the contact with the embassy of Palestine in this regard.

Answering a question, Jamal Shah said a conference has been convened of language experts of the country to convert the rhymes, Lok poems songs and literature into the attractive videos, animations and illustrated books.

The Minister said infrastructure including theaters will be revamped with the coordination of Capital Development Authority and Ministry of Interior to provide quality entertainment to the people.