ISLAMABAD: 19 Dec 2025 – Uzbekistan Through the lens of Pakistani Photographers, Mohammad Azhar Hafeez, Ramzan Moghal, Shahid Qureshy, Gulrez Gauri, Tariq Suleimani, a wonderful photography exhibition has been launched on 19 Dec to 22 Dec, at PNCA Islamabad where an extensive array of photographs depicting the heritage and beauty of Uzbekistan have been showcased.
The official opening ceremony of the photo exhibition organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan was held at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA). The exhibition is based on the outcomes of a press tour of leading Pakistani photojournalists to Uzbekistan conducted from 2 to 7 August.
As part of the event, a special photo album compiled from the works of the press tour participants was also presented.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting of Pakistan, Attaullah Tarar, the Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, Ms Misbah Khar, Advisor to Chairman Senate, Additional Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs Amb Hamid Asghar Khan, Director General PNCA Ayub Jamali.
Ambassadors of Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Hungary, Sri Lanka, Yemen, members of the diplomatic corps from Turkiye, China, Kazakhstan, Vietnam parliamentarians, cultural figures, representatives of the tourism industry, business circles, media representatives, as well as more than ten foreign ambassadors accredited in Islamabad.
The Chief Guest, Mr. Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, Federal Minister for National Heritage & Culture, highlighted the importance of cultural exchanges in fostering mutual understanding and enhancing bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries.
Mr. Atta Ur Rehman, Federal Minister for Information, stressed the role of media, photography, and creative storytelling in projecting a positive image of countries and promoting intercultural harmony.
Ambassador Alisher Tukhtaev, stated that such cultural initiatives help bring nations closer and promote Uzbekistan as an emerging tourism destination for Pakistani travelers.
Mr. Hamid Mahmood, Brand Ambassador of Uzbekistan Tourism in Pakistan, who emphasized that photography is a powerful medium for cultural diplomacy and plays a vital role in strengthening people-to-people relations between Pakistan and Uzbekistan.
Photojournalist Mr. Ramzan Mughal shared insights into the photographers’ experiences and the artistic process behind capturing Uzbekistan’s heritage, architecture, and traditions through Pakistani perspectives.
The exhibition showcases Uzbekistan’s rich historical, spiritual, and cultural heritage, the unique architecture of its ancient cities, and the large-scale socio-economic transformations being implemented in the country.
The exhibition stands as a vivid example of successful cultural and humanitarian diplomacy, contributing to greater mutual understanding and the further strengthening of friendly relations between the peoples of Uzbekistan and Pakistan.
In August 2025, as part of the “Roadmap” aimed at enhancing cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Tourism Committee organized a visit of professional Pakistani photographers to our country.
During the visit, the foreign creative team captured images of Uzbekistan’s tourist destinations — including the Fergana Valley, the Samarkand and Bukhara regions, as well as historical and cultural landmarks in the city of Tashkent, along with modern buildings and architectural sites.
The main goal of this visit was to widely promote Uzbekistan’s rich tangible and intangible heritage, tourism infrastructure, and modern development in South Asian countries, particularly in Pakistan.
The photographs taken by Pakistani photographers were selected and included in a special photo album titled “Uzbekistan Through the Lens of Pakistani Photographers,” which was published in collaboration with the Tourism Committee.
In the next phase of the project, exhibitions aimed at promoting Uzbekistan’s tourism potential are being held in major cities of Pakistan — including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, and other key locations.
This initiative serves to strengthen Uzbekistan’s image in the international tourism arena and foster the development of cultural and tourism ties between the two countries.
