Karachi: Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi in press conference discussed ‘World Culture Festival Karachi’.  

President Arts Council Karachi Ahmed Shah along with intellectual and humorist Anwar Maqsood, actor, theater director Khalid Ahmed, Prof. Ejaz Ahmed Farooqi and Qudsia Akbar briefed media.  Ahmed Shah announced that Festival organised by Arts Council Karachi will commence on September 26 and continue till October 30, 2024. Festival will see participation of more than 34 countries, including Palestine, India, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, USA, UK, Germany, Australia, Russia, Egypt, South Africa, Italy, Japan, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Norway, Brazil, Spain, Belgium, Ukraine, Oman, Qatar, Zimbabwe, Azerbaijan, France, Uganda, Belarus, Ireland, Kosovo, Burundi, Congo, Rwanda and others. 

‘World Culture Festival Karachi’ will feature more than 100 cultural performances by more than 350 artists, including theater, music, dance groups, and fine arts from Pakistan and abroad. He added that before Aalmi Urdu Conference, Arts Council usually hosts Youth Festival, Pakistan Theater Festival, Music Festival and Dance Festival. However, this time, they are bringing largest festival in Pakistan’s history, named ‘World Culture Festival Karachi.’   There will be fusion of various music and dance forms from around world, with workshops and talks alongside performances, open to Arts Council students and others through registration. He highlighted that Pakistan’s culture, artists, and heritage are rich and festival will also include qawwali and classical dance. Performances by Akhtar Chanal, Wahab Bugti, Mai Dhai, instrumentalist Abdullah and Faqir Zulfiqar, as well as instruments like Sarangi and flute will be part of festival. They aim to create universal music experience with international artists.  He mentioned being in continuous contact with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who has fully supported festival and assured security arrangements.

While there have been visa issues between India and Pakistan, efforts are being made to include as many artists from various countries as possible. Anwar Maqsood remarked that just as Allama Iqbal had dream, Ahmed Shah has dream of bringing together 40 countries in one place, which is indeed dream.  He wished for peace in country and congratulated Ahmed Shah. Theater director Khalid Ahmed added that this is going to be very large festival and that it has grown significantly over time. He expressed amazement at scale of festival, acknowledging that challenges are not easy, but it will be great learning opportunity for students to understand how people think globally. In conclusion, Secretary Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi Prof. Ejaz Ahmed Farooqi thanks media.