Punjab Council of The Arts (PUCAR) is an autonomous body under the Information and Culture Department, Government of Punjab, to promote arts, culture, and literature in Punjab Province Pakistan. The Punjab Council of The Arts was founded in 1975 for the purpose of the promotion, patronage, and development of arts and culture and for matters connected therewith in Punjab-Pakistan. The organization carries out its activities in accordance with the PUCAR Act-1975 and Regulations-2020.
Board of Governors and Executive Committee of PUCAR comprise of literary, intellectual, and artistic personalities and public representatives. The PUCAR Act of 1975 required the establishment of divisional and district arts councils to promote art and culture and to provide facilities to artists and artisans to give them exposure and financial assistance, as well as giving them a platform and encouragement. The council has established 9-divisional arts councils and 4-district arts councils:
• Punjab Council of the Arts Gujranwala Division
• Punjab Council of the Arts Gujrat Division
• Punjab Council of the Arts Rawalpindi Division
• Punjab Council of the Arts Sargodha Division
• Punjab Council of the Arts Faisalabad Division
• Punjab Council of the Arts Sahiwal Division
• Punjab Council of the Arts Bahawalpur Division
• Punjab Council of the Arts Multan Division
• Punjab Council of the Arts DG Khan Division
• Punjab Council of the Arts Sheikhupura District
• Punjab Council of the Arts Murree District
• Punjab Council of the Arts Bhakkar District
• Punjab Council of the Arts Okara District
PUCAR’s Head Office is located in Lahore, which not only serves as the central administrative hub but also supervises cultural activities and events in the Lahore Division, making Lahore both the cultural and administrative capital of the Council.
Lahore Division, known as the “Heart of Pakistan”, holds immense cultural significance. It is the home of classical music, qawwali, Punjabi literature, and Mughal heritage, with landmarks like Shalimar Gardens, Lahore Fort, Badshahi Mosque, Hazuri Bagh, and Open Air Theater. Kasur adds the shrine of Baba Bulleh Shah, Sheikhupura offers Hiran Minar, and Nankana Sahib is globally significant as the birthplace of Guru Nanak.
Specialized Venue Open-Air Theatre, nestled on a hill within Bagh-e-Jinnah, Lahore's. Historic Open Air Theatre is a vital epicenter for the city's cultural and artistic life. Constructed in 1941-42 on the classical pattern of a Greek theatre, its very architecture evokes a timeless connection to the performing arts. Since its transfer to the Punjab Council of the Arts in 1980, this 1,000-seat venue has been a key platform for diverse cultural activities. Currently, the theatre is undergoing a significant restoration and improvement scheme, poised to dramatically enhance its capabilities. This ambitious project will introduce critical new facilities including dedicated artist makeup rooms, a studio, a cafeteria, an art & craft museum, and a new 200-seat auditorium (Punjab Hall). Once completed and available to the general public, these allied facilities are expected to be a game-changer, transforming the complex into a comprehensive cultural hub and providing an unprecedented boost to the promotion and development of art and culture across Punjab.