Houston: Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi and International Arts Society (USA) jointly organised 1st Aalmi Urdu Conference here, in which Ahmed Faraz’s ghazals, theater plays, classical dances and international mushaira remained centre of attention.

President of Arts Council Karachi Ahmad Shah said that 16 years ago, when series of Aalmi Urdu Conference was started at that time, Urdu medium was considered closer to abuse in society. Today English mediums sit on ground listening to ghazals and watching dance and drama. Arts Council Karachi now has capacity to host international cultural conferences. Fame of work of Arts Council has crossed borders of country and reached United States. He said that Pakistani citizens live in any country of world should maintain their relationship with their language, literature and culture.

He said that it is admirable that people who have been living in America, Canada and other countries for two and half decades are still attached to their language and literature and Aalmi Urdu Conference held in Houston is proof of this. He vowed to fight terrorism with poetry, dialogue and literature and art, time proved that our tools were more powerful than guns and we defeated terrorism with language and literature. Aalmi Urdu Conference has become big brand which has spread not only to subcontinent but also to its circle of friends in Europe and America. He said that Pakistan is an enlightened democratic country where tolerance, dialogue, art, music, literature and art are given importance.

Pakistani nation has potential to expand relationship of mutual trust with democratic and enlightened society of world. He said that Pakistan has an invaluable wealth of culture and heritage, we are willing to cooperate with cultural societies, Arts Council Karachi is member of World Cultural Conference and work is being done to organise World Cultural Conference.

Published in The Daily National Courier, July, 04 2023

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