LAHORE : Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bukhari has said that Pakistan and Tajikistan share many common values, traditions and cultural bonds.
Addressing the Pakistan-Tajikistan Cultural Festival in Lahore at Hazuri Bagh, Lahore Fort on 22 Dec, she expressed the hope that the stay of the visiting Tajik cultural troupe in the provincial capital had been pleasant.
The event was attended by a 75-member Tajik delegation, including Tajik Ambassador Sharifzoda Yusuf Toir, Additional Secretary Punjab Ahmed Raza Sarwar, and other dignitaries. Tajik artists and dancers performed traditional music, which Minister Azma Bukhari described as “outstanding,” praising the elegance of Tajik women and the charm of Tajik culture.
Several Pakistani artists, including renowned singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, also performed at the cultural festival.
Azma Bukhari welcomed the delegation on behalf of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif and invited them to visit Lahore’s shopping centers to experience the city’s vibrancy and hospitality firsthand. The Minister, responding to an invitation from the Tajik ambassador, pledged to visit Tajikistan, emphasizing that cultural diplomacy strengthens bilateral cooperation through music, literature, fine arts, and preservation of cultural heritage.
She thanked the Tajik delegation for providing Pakistan an opportunity to host them and said that Chief Minister Punjab had directed the authorities concerned to extend all necessary facilities to the visiting guests.
Azma Bukhari requested Ambassador of Tajikistan to Pakistan, Sharifzoda Yusuf Toir, to facilitate visits of the cultural troupe to Lahore’s historic sites, rich cultural heritage and vibrant bazaars. She also directed the relevant departments to ensure full cooperation with the Tajik delegation during their stay.
The Information Minister said Punjab is fully prepared to enhance cultural cooperation with Tajikistan. She expressed admiration for Tajik culture and shared her desire to visit Tajikistan in the future. She said every country has its own distinct cultural identity and traditions, and appreciated the elegance of Tajik cultural attire.
Grand Inauguration of Pak–Tajik Cultural Festival Week at Lok Virsa, Islamabad
Ambassador Sharifzoda Yusuf Toir presented a traditional Tajik garment to Azma Bukhari.
Speaking at the event, the Tajik Ambassador said that Pakistani attire is popular in Tajikistan and is often worn at wedding ceremonies. He extended an invitation to the Punjab Minister for Information and Culture to visit Tajikistan and attend a wedding ceremony there.
Tajik Ambassador called Lahore “Tajikistan’s second capital” and thanked the Government of Pakistan for organizing the festival. The delegation also visited a handicrafts exhibition at Hazuri Bagh, showing great interest in the displays that reflected the shared culture, arts, and traditions of both countries, highlighting the strong historical and cultural ties between Pakistan and Tajikistan.
Minister Azma Bukhari added that the festival not only fosters friendship between the peoples of the two countries but also serves as a milestone in preserving and promoting their shared heritage, reviving historical ties between South and Central Asia and sending a message of peace, love, and mutual cooperation.
She said that such cultural exchanges are an excellent means to enhance public harmony and a practical demonstration of the strong friendship between Pakistan and Tajikistan.
Referring to the historical Silk Route, she noted that it facilitated not only trade but also the exchange of ideas, languages, and traditions, forming a shared cultural legacy, which Tajikistan proudly preserves. She emphasized that culture transcends borders and that Persian poets are equally revered in both countries.
Earlier, the Tajik delegation visited Mazar-e-Iqbal, laid floral wreaths, and offered Fateha in tribute to Allama Iqbal, the “Poet of the East,” honoring his lasting legacy in Pakistan and Tajikistan.
