Culture Reporter
Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah inaugurated the second edition of the World Culture Festival at the Arts Council of Pakistan, calling Karachi “the vibrant heart of Pakistan” and a beacon of cultural diversity.
“Karachi — unpredictable, vibrant, and alive — has always embodied the soul of Pakistan. Today, it welcomes the world,” Shah said in his address.
The grand opening ceremony featured provincial and international dignitaries, including Arts Council President Ahmed Shah and Provincial Minister for Culture Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah. The Chief Minister lauded Ahmed Shah’s vision for transforming a local initiative into a global cultural platform.
“What began last year as a bold experiment with artists from 44 countries has now grown into a festival representing 142 nations and over 1,000 artists,” he said, terming it a testament to Pakistan’s spirit of inclusivity and creative resilience.
Murad Shah emphasized the unifying power of art in an era of division and conflict. “Art speaks the language of humanity. It heals, it connects, and it resists,” he noted, reaffirming the Sindh government’s commitment to promoting culture and the arts as vital tools of diplomacy and soft power.
The festival also celebrated Sindh’s spiritual and literary heritage, paying tribute to Sufi poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai and showcasing regional folk and Sufi music.
Thanking Culture Minister Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah for empowering young artists, the Chief Minister said the event reinforced Karachi’s status as a global cultural crossroads where “the world feels at home.”
The week-long festival includes theatre performances, art exhibitions, film screenings, and music showcases from around the world.
The opening programme featured a theme song and a highlight reel from the 2024 edition, followed by musical acts from Shah Jo Faqir (Pakistan), Madan Gopal (Nepal), Lucy Tasker (Belgium), Ammar Ashkar (Syria), Akbar Khamiso Khan (Pakistan), and Zakaria Haffar (France). A short film, Love Note to an Island (Kiribati), on environmental themes, was also screened.
The festival is expected to attract thousands of visitors, strengthening Pakistan’s global cultural footprint and showcasing its resilience and artistic innovation.
