KARACHI: Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi organised grand press conference for upcoming ‘World Culture Festival Karachi’ disclosing that event will be held from September 26.

Event featured prominent personalities such as renowned intellectual and satirist Anwar Maqsood, President of Arts Council, Karachi Ahmed Shah, Sindh Minister for Culture Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah and Secretary Arts Council Karachi Ejaz Farooqi.  International cultural groups from Nepal and Kosovo were also present.

Shah stated that ‘World Culture Festival Karachi’ will begin on September 26 with inaugural ceremony led by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.  35-day festival will continue at Arts Council until October 30. Shah mentioned that various international groups will conduct workshops with students from Karachi University and other universities.  Festival will feature 40 theatre performances, 55 music performances, 50 dance performances, 20 workshops, 10 talks and 5 fine art exhibitions along with traditional folk from Gilgit, Kashmir, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Sindh.  “We are inheritors of three civilisations and festival will include theatre performances in Urdu, Sindhi, English and various other languages,” he added. He said that Sindh chief secretary has assured full cooperation for event. 

Additionally, he revealed that 40 countries will participate in festival, including Palestine, Turkey, India, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany, China, Australia, Russia, Egypt, Iraq, South Africa, Italy, Japan, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Norway, Brazil, Spain, Belgium, Ukraine, Oman, Qatar, Malta, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Azerbaijan, Scotland, Hungary, France, Uganda, Belarus, Ireland, Kosovo, Burundi, Congo, Rwanda, Algeria and Switzerland. Speaking about festival, he said it will feature over 100 cultural performances, with more than 450 artists from Pakistan and around world.  Along with performances in theatre, music and dance, there will also be fine arts exhibitions. Festival will also showcase qawwali, classical dance and performances by renowned artists like Akhtar Chanal, Wahab Bugti, Mai Dhai, instrumentalist Abdullah, Faqir Zulfiqar, and traditional instruments such as sarangi and flute. 

Renowned satirist Anwar Maqsood added: ‘You know what’s happening in Islamabad, Balochistan and Punjab.’ Sindh is only province where cultural festival is being held. At time when people are leaving country, it’s wonderful to see 40 countries coming to Karachi. This is testament to Sindh’s hard work and love. Sindh Culture Minister Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah noted that in time of self-interest, this festival will showcase Pakistan’s positive image.  “Our relationship with foreign countries is going to strengthen further. Sindh government is fully supporting Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi,” he said.  He added Anwar Maqsood’s vision, realised by Ahmed Shah, will indeed come true, as festival will be broadcast worldwide through media.  It is important to note that “Tickets for World Culture Festival Karachi can be easily obtained from Arts Council Karachi and Ticketwala.”