Cultural conference in Netherlands: Pakistan land of world’s two leading civilizations, says Pervaiz

Both ministers discussed matters of mutual interests in the fields of education and cultural exchange programmes


APP October 22, 2014

ROTTERDAM:


Federal Minister for Information Broadcasting and National Heritage Pervaiz Rashid said on Tuesday that Pakistan is a land of world’s leading two ancient civilizations of Gandhara and Indus that flourished some 5000 years ago.


He was speaking to Dutch Minister for Education, Culture and Science Jet Bussemaker in a meeting on the sidelines of 6th Asia-Europe Culture Minister conference here.

During the meeting both the ministers discussed matters of mutual interests in the fields of education and cultural exchange programmes, said a press release. Pervaiz Rashid said despite many difficulties and odds that cropped up in the wake of Afghan crises since the 80s, the people of Pakistan have showed exemplary resilience and kept alive the art and culture of the country.

Pakistani artists, especially musicians and singers, experimented the blend of Western and classical music and made their name all over the world in this genre of music that was called “Fusion”, he added. The minister sought Dutch technical help and cooperation in the field of preservation of rich cultural heritage and museum management, and their marketing in Pakistan.

The Dutch minister said her country had been extending its cooperation and support to Pakistan in the education sector and possibilities to expand its scope to preservation of cultural heritage, artifacts and capacity building in museum management could be looked into on receipt of specific requirements from the Pakistani side.

She said the Dutch Institute for Higher Education could also help in Students Exchange Programme whereby the Pakistani students pursuing their studies in the field of art and culture could attend their classes in Dutch institutes. The Dutch minister also appreciated the courage and role of Malala Yousafzai for girls’ education, who had been awarded a Nobel Peace Prize this year for raising voice for the female education and said she was a great inspiration and a symbol of hope for the young generation. 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22nd, 2014.

COMMENTS (3)

Mille | 9 years ago | Reply

How typical of these nonsensical Indian trolls to spam this forum yet again with this "Arab culture" rubbish. Pakistanis may have picked up one or two things from the Arabs but Pakistani culture is vastly different from Arab. Only someone who has never lived through both cultures could equate the two. Just because Pakistanis are Muslims does not mean they have been Arabized, otherwise they'd all be speaking Arabic! That's what happened to every nation across the Middle East and North Africa that was Arabized or took up Arabic culture as a result of Arab conquest.

Sheesh! Who is in charge of Express Tribune's editorial policies and comment forum moderation? Whoever it is, please fire him, dear ET! You should be much more responsible about managing your discussion threads, maintaining their intellectual integrity and preventing them from being littered with what is clearly unfounded trash from across the border.

Amir | 9 years ago | Reply

Oh Really? Then why did you replace your culture, DNA, ethos... with that of the Arabs?

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