Executive Director of Lok Virsa Khalid Javaid explained to her functioning and role of Lok Virsa (National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage) as a leading cultural institution in the public sector.
He informed the delegation about the services of the Institute which deals with documentation, preservation and dissemination of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Pakistan with an extensive network of community-based organisations, regional associations, NGOs, intellectuals, researchers, folk artists, master artisans and above all the citizens of the country.
Becky Gates took keen interest in the museum displays, particularly the dioramas on "Zardozi work" - needle work on bridal dresses, silk thread gallery, display of traditional costumes, architectural crafts such as mirror work, fresco work and tile mosaic work and the beautiful wooden carved doors collected from hovels (old houses) from different localities in rural Punjab and NWFP.
She highly lauded Lok Virsa's efforts in documenting and preserving the indigenous folk culture of Pakistan through three-dimensional cultural displays. In her comments in the visitors book, Becky thanked Lok Virsa for the welcome.
To mark the visit, co-ordinated by the US Embassy in Islamabad, Lok Virsa specially organised an artisans-at-work with master artisans and traditional practitioners in the specialised crafts of stone carving, papier mache, embroidery, wax printing, gabba weaving, carpet weaving and Kashmir shawl making. A musical performance with folk artists and rural musicians was also a part of the programme. The US delegation thoroughly enjoyed the programmes arranged by Lok Virsa on the occasion.