Report : Tazeen Akhtar | Camera : Raja Ghulam Farid
The Pak–Tajik Cultural Festival Week was formally inaugurated at Lok Virsa, Islamabad, in a colorful and dignified ceremony. The cultural week idea is the brain child of Ambassador Sharifzoda Yousuf Toir. He discussed it with Prime Minister Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif who appreciated it a lot and invited the Tajik cultural delegation as state guest to Islamabad.
The event was attended by Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Division Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Tajikistan H.E. Sattoriyon Matlubakhon Amonzoda, Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, State Minister Khuzaifa Rehman, Advisor to Prime Minister Farah Naaz Akbar, Secretary Culture Asad Gilani, the Ambassador of Tajikistan Sharifzoda Yousuf Toir, senior government officials, diplomats, artists, and prominent figures from the cultural community.
Ambassadors of Russia, Uzbekistan, Morocco, Maldives and diplomats of many other countries were also present at the opening event. The event attracted a large number of families from twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Federal Minister Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, addressing the opening ceremony, said that the Pak–Tajik Cultural Festival is a strong reflection of the deep-rooted friendship and longstanding historical and cultural ties between the two brotherly countries.
He emphasized that cultural diplomacy plays a vital role in promoting peace, harmony, and people-to-people contacts in the region. He noted that the exchange of art, music, and traditions brings nations closer and that the festival conveys a positive and constructive message to the younger generation.
Minister of Culture of Tajikistan, H.E. Sattoriyon Matlubakhon Amonzoda in her detailed address, said that Pakistan and Tajikistan are not only geographically close but are also bound by centuries-old spiritual, linguistic, historical, and cultural connections.
She stated that bilateral relations between the two countries continue to strengthen under the wise policies of their leadership, and cooperation across various sectors stands as a strong example of strategic partnership.
Praising Pakistan’s historical sites, linguistic diversity, and rich literary heritage, she remarked that Tajik and Urdu poetry originate from the same intellectual and cultural source. She added that cultural days are not merely celebratory events but a powerful message of peace, friendship, and mutual respect.
The Prime Minister’s Adviser for National Heritage and Culture, while speaking on the occasion, said that the Prime Minister of Pakistan has appreciated this cultural initiative and directed that a large cultural delegation from Pakistan be sent to Tajikistan to further promote bilateral cultural cooperation. He also paid tribute to the efforts of the Tajik Ambassador for his role in strengthening cultural ties.
Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan also attended the ceremony and lauded the culture of Tajikistan. He termed the organization of joint cultural programs between the two countries as a welcome step and congratulated the Federal Minister for Culture and the Tajik Ambassador on the successful holding of the Pak–Tajik Cultural Festival.
The ceremony concluded with captivating performances of folk music, traditional dances, and cultural displays, which enthralled the audience.
The Pak–Tajik Cultural Festival Week is being widely regarded as a new milestone in further strengthening cultural relations between Pakistan and Tajikistan.
