Key Points
- Week of Tajikistan Culture will showcase traditional performances, a Tajik film festival, and fusion music and dance.
- The event will feature a grand night gala at Lahore’s Shahi Fort, celebrating the Mughal-era bond between the nations.
- Tajik artists and musicians will collaborate with Pakistani counterparts, sharing skills like traditional hand embroidery.
- Tajikistan and Pakistan will promote their shared history and culture through two films on classical poetry and heritage.
ISLAMABAD: In a step towards enhancing cultural ties, Pakistan and Tajikistan will jointly celebrate the “Week of Tajikistan Culture” in Islamabad. The week-long festival, scheduled to begin soon, is a collaborative effort between the Ministries of Culture of both countries, the Embassy of Tajikistan, the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), and Lok Virsa. The event is set to reinforce the long-standing cultural, historical, and linguistic ties between the two nations.
The celebration will include a range of exciting activities, offering a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of Tajikistan. Among the highlights are a traditional cultural showcase, an art exhibition titled “Land of Mountains and Poets”, a fusion music and dance night, a Tajik film festival, live demonstrations of Tajik handicrafts, a culinary festival featuring authentic Tajik dishes, and a literary forum that will explore the shared intellectual legacy of the two countries.
One of the most anticipated events will be a grand night gala at Lahore’s historic Shahi Fort, which is expected to serve as a platform to deepen cultural exchanges between the two nations. The event will explore the shared Mughal-era heritage and open new avenues for future cooperation.
Meeting to strengthen ties
On Friday, Ambassador of Tajikistan to Pakistan, Sharifzoda Yusuf Toirali, met with Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Division, Mr. Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, to finalise preparations for the cultural week. During the meeting, Ambassador Sharifzoda suggested hosting an additional night gala in Lahore to evoke the grandeur of the Mughal era and further solidify the historical connection between the two countries. He emphasised the deep-rooted cultural and linguistic similarities that Pakistan and Tajikistan share, noting that both nations are united by a rich cultural history.
The Ambassador also discussed plans to bring Tajik artists, musicians, and dancers to collaborate with their Pakistani counterparts, showcasing traditional skills such as Tajik hand embroidery. “We are also launching two films during the cultural week, which focus on our shared history, culture, and classical poetry,” he said, adding that Tajikistan draws significant inspiration from the poetry of Allama Muhammad Iqbal.
The ambassador expressed his intention to invite Pakistan’s leadership, including the Chief Minister of Punjab, to attend both the Lahore gala and the Islamabad festival, underlining Tajikistan’s full support for Pakistan’s initiatives to preserve and promote shared Mughal-era heritage, art, and music.
Support and anticipation
Federal Minister Aurangzeb Khan Khichi welcomed the proposal for the Lahore gala, recognising the importance of cultural exchanges between the two countries. “It is my pleasure to collaborate in promoting joint cultural events that highlight our shared history and values,” he remarked. He assured that the final dates for the cultural week would be confirmed shortly after the conclusion of Lok Mela 2025.
Secretary of the National Heritage and Culture Division, Assad Rehman Gillani, also briefed the Tajik ambassador on the logistics of the festival, including the proposed venues, schedule, and arrangements.
The Week of Tajikistan Culture is expected to be a vibrant and memorable celebration of art, friendship, and heritage. The event symbolises the renewed commitment of both Pakistan and Tajikistan to strengthening their cultural and historical ties, and it promises to be an important chapter in the ongoing diplomatic relationship between the two nations.
