Eleven of Pakistan’s leading contemporary artists have donated their works for an auction on October 7 in London, the proceeds from which will go towards upgrading five schools for the poor.
The auction, organised by the Lahore-based not-for-profit organisation Pakistan Rising, is scheduled to take place on the preview night for the Bonhams Islamic/South Asian Contemporary Art Auction.
The artists who have donated their works for the cause are Faiza Sheikh, Salman Toor, Tassaduq Sohail, Waseem Ahmed, Ayesha Durrani, Komail Aijazzudin, Sara Khan, Naiza Khan, Imran Channa, Moeen Faruqi and Ali Kazim.
Pakistan Rising said that the funds raised at auction will go towards building additional classrooms in five schools run by Pakistan Rising for under-privileged children, purchasing new textbooks, setting up libraries and meeting day-to-day expenses.
Pakistan Rising also organised an auction featuring ten Pakistani artists in October 2011 which raised over Rs5.25 million.
The organisation hopes to raise a similar amount or more this year, with Bonhams waiving commission amounts so the full sum from the auction can go to charity. The costs of the event are being covered by private individuals and companies.
Four of the schools are based in Swat and one in Uch Sharif, with a total student strength of over 1,100.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 20th, 2013.