Ahmed Mukhtar Naqshbandi
RAWALPINDI: The opening ceremony of the week-long Gandhara Festival 2023, organized by the Punjab Arts Council (PAC), was held at Gandhara Art Village in Taxila.
Speaking on the occasion, Muhammad Khalid Taimur, said that Gandhara, the great centre of global cultural heritage, was a region of different religions.
Taimor said that the message of love for humanity, peace, and tolerance would be spread through these fairs.
While addressing the opening ceremony, Director General PAC Muhammad Mehboob Alam said that Pakistan had been the centre of various ancient civilizations since immemorial.
Different civilizations have spread colours, flourished, and grown with their beating hearts.
He added that Punjab combines three major regions: desert, plains, and potohari regions.
Gandhara festival
The DG said that PAC had arranged various fairs to highlight Gandhara, Harappa, Indus Valley Civilization, and Hakra Civilization this year.
Director PAC Rawalpindi Waqar Ahmad, on the occasion, said that the promotion of culture was one of the priorities of the Punjab government.
Along with Gandhara, Punjab Arts Council will organize festivals on the Hakra culture of Harappa, Cholistan, and Sindhi.
During the ceremony, a band from Switzerland led by Wajih Nizami made the audience dance.
Folk singer Sain Zahoor presented his Sufi songs in a narrative style and received great applause from the audience.
The followers of Buddha from Sukkur left no stone unturned in making the ceremony memorable.
A large number participated in the festival that will continue till February 4.
