Islamic Art festival draws strong public response

The Punjab Council of the Arts Rawalpindi, under the Information and Culture Department of the Government of Punjab, organised a two-day Islamic Art and Architecture Festival from January 16-17, in collaboration with Hasto Neest – An Institution of Traditional Arts. The initiative was developed by Sameeha Khaliq.

The festival sought to promote awareness of Islamic artistic and architectural heritage through dialogue, exhibition, and education. The opening day featured a panel discussion titled "In Search of the Timeless in Architecture", moderated by Taimoor Mumtaz Khan, Director of Hasto Neest, with Dr Maimona Khan and Professor Zarar Babury serving as panelists.

Dr Waqas Saleem, Executive Director of Lok Virsa, attended as the Chief Guest. Praising the initiative, he underscored the value of collaborative cultural engagements with the Arts Council. Shields and souvenirs were presented to the guest speakers. Director Arts Council, Muhammad Shakoor, along with other officials, was also in attendance.

A group art exhibition exploring traditional and contemporary interpretations of Islamic art and architecture was inaugurated as part of the festival. Exhibition coordination was supported by Khurram Abbas, alongside the wider festival team.

The second day comprised workshops on Traditional Calligraphy, conducted by Nasir Khan Seemab, and Sacred Geometry in Architecture, conducted by Emaan Zainab. A bookstall by the National Book Foundation was also installed as part of the event.

The festival drew an encouraging response from attendees.