PESHAWAR
\nThe rich cultural heritage of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), especially in its historic capital Peshawar, is facing a growing existential threat due to various factors causing intolerance in society.
\nThe factors like commercialization, poverty, terrorism and overpowering influence of social media have pushed traditional entertainment and cultural expressions to the brink of extinction.
\nOnce a vibrant hub for music, theater and cinema, Peshawar has witnessed systematic erosion of its cultural with the closure of cinemas, hujra live music and entertainment leaving behind a vacuum and contributing to rising social intolerance and negative behavioral shifts.
\nDespite producing legendary film and television stars such as Yousaf Khan (Dilip Kumar), Raj Kapoor, Qavi Khan, Ismail Shahid, Najeebullah Anjum and Firdous Jamal, the city today bears little resemblance to the cultural beacons of the past.
\nOut of 15 once-thriving cinemas, seven cinemas including Shabistan, Palwasha, Capital, Falak Sair, Novelty, Metro, Sabrina and Ihsrat have been demolished and replaced by commercial plazas and hotels, depriving thousands fans of entertainment.
\nThe surviving theaters such as Arshad, Aaeena, Naz, and Shama now suffer from low attendance due to poor infrastructure, lack of new film releases, and the KP government\u2019s indifference to the entertainment industry.
\n\u201cIt was heartbreaking to see the Capital Cinema\u2019s conversion into a shopping plaza, where I watched countless Pashto films,\u201d said Mushtaq Khan, a Peshawar native taxi driver.
\nHe accused KP Govt for its lackluster approach towards films industry especially dying cinemas in Peshawar and stressed for its immediate reconstruction.
\nSimilarly, Muhammad Farooq, a film enthusiast from Katlang, Mardan, reminisced about his student days watching English and Pashto films in Peshawar\u2019s once often packed Capital Cinema.
\n\u201cNow, I have to travel to Rawalpindi or Lahore with friends just to enjoy a new movie after my favorite Capital cinema on Arbab Road Peshawar has been demolished,\u201d he regretted.
\nEven the few active cinemas in Peshawar struggle to stay afloat before commercialization.
\nGohar Yousafzai, Manager of Sabrina Cinema, revealed that recent Eid screenings drew only a handful of viewers, despite affordable ticket prices.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s becoming impossible to run a cinema. Rising utility bills, staff wages and property taxes are making it unsustainable,\u201d he said.
\nVeteran Pashto film directors Shahid Khan and Jahangir Khan pointed to poor storytelling, outdated cinematography and misrepresentation of Pashtun culture as reasons behind the declining interest in local films.
\n\u201cQuality films require a minimum investment of Rs 10 million, but producers are being pushed to work with just Rs 2 million,\u201d they explained.
\n\u201cBut, we believe that despite setbacks, Pashto films hold high commercial potential, with strong followings in KP, Karachi and Afghanistan.\u201d
\nThey recalled as how, not long ago, the release of a new film used to attract thousands fans clamoring and struggling for tickets outside the cinemas.
\n\u201cThose scene have vanished now, whatever the reasons. But, still we believe that if a quality production is made, viewers would again throng the cinemas.\u201d
\nThey however look the wages standards as one of the major issues confronting this industry. \u201cLow wages and social discouragement are keeping young talent away from the industry. Therefore, the government must support filmmakers by removing excessive taxes and offering financial incentives.\u201d
\nSome experts have also linked the erosion of cultural heritage with broader societal issues.
\nDr. Khalid Mufti, former Principal Khyber Medical College and eminent psychiatrist, argued that decline in live entertainment and the shrinking community spaces like hujras have fueled social alienation and intolerance besides negative tendencies in society.
\n\u201cOur heritage from music, theater and drama to historical gardens like Shalimar and Wazir Bagh is under threat, not just by neglect but by the unfiltered content dominating social media,\u201d Dr. Mufti said.
\nRenowned Pashto singer Khayal Muhammad and Bakhtair Khattak stressed the need to revive regional music, theater and drama to engage youth and protect them from negative influences.
\nHe called for construction of new cinemas, tax exemptions for film equipment and job security for artists.
\nAnother important area of culture in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is its ancient civilization and efforts are underway to protect KP\u2019s this tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
\nDr. Abdul Samad Khan, Director of Archaeology and Museums KP, highlighted the province\u2019s deep historical roots from Gandhara and Indo-Greek civilizations to the Mughals and British Raj.
\nSites like 2,000-year-old Takht-i-Bahi monastery and the ruins of Pushkalavati in Charsadda stand as living testaments to this heritage.
\nUnder the KP Antiquities Act, he said several endangered sites have been protected, digitized, and even 3D-mapped for conservation and virtual access.
\nCommunity-led initiatives in districts like Dir and Buner are training locals as heritage custodians, blending traditional knowledge with modern conservation methods.
\nEfforts to introduce cultural education in school curriculums and organize youth-led heritage walks are beginning to take root.
\n\u201cWhat we are losing is not just brick and rabab but memory, identity, and wisdom,\u201d said Dr. Samad, adding\u201dProtecting heritage isn\u2019t a government job alone; it\u2019s every citizen\u2019s responsibility.\u201d
\nAs KP stands at the crossroads of modernity and tradition, the preservation and promotion of its cultural heritage must be prioritized to revive performing art and archaeology and foster a more tolerant and peaceful society.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PESHAWAR The rich cultural heritage of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), especially in its historic capital Peshawar, is facing a growing existential threat due to various factors causing intolerance in society. The factors like commercialization, poverty, terrorism and overpowering influence of social media have pushed traditional entertainment and cultural expressions to the brink of extinction. Once a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-488449","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-peshawar"],"yoast_head":"\n