Sindh to honour Moin Akhtar and Jaun Elia with dedicated cultural spaces

Government also planning to host art festival, says Provincial Culture Minister

Provincial Minister for Culture and Tourism Sindh, Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, announced that the Sindh government plans to dedicate cultural spaces in the names of iconic artist Moin Akhtar and celebrated poet Jaun Elia. He said the initiative aims to honour the province’s literary and cultural legacy.

Speaking to media during his visit to the Liaquat Memorial Library on Thursday, the Minister also revealed that the government is planning an Art Festival as part of its efforts to promote cultural activities across the province.

Shah formally inaugurated the newly established Dr Akash Ansari Seminar Hall at the library, calling Dr Akash a legendary poet whose contributions deserve recognition. “Dedicating spaces to our literary figures is a tribute to culture and history,” he noted.

He said students would greatly benefit from the library’s growing resources, while cultural projects are helping Pakistan’s soft image on the global stage. Shah added that under the vision of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the Sindh government is actively promoting culture internationally.

Highlighting recent initiatives, the Minister said a three-day Craft Festival received widespread appreciation, while the World Culture Festival featuring foreign artists further enhanced Pakistan’s image abroad.

He added that Sindh is the “land of saints” enriched with heritage and traditions, and shared that discussions with diplomats are underway regarding cultural cooperation. The UAE Consul General has shown interest in supporting the Liaquat Memorial Library, and a meeting with the US Ambassador is expected later this month.

The Minister said all libraries across Sindh will be upgraded to modern standards. He also shared that 25,000 to 28,000 foreign tourists visited Mohenjo Daro during his tenure and that development work at Gorakh Hill is ongoing, rejecting claims of financial misuse.