'World Culture Festival projects our identity'

Sindh Minister lauds Karachi event's role in highlighting country's soft power

KARACHI:

Sindh's Minister for Culture and Tourism Zulfiqar Ali Shah has said the World Culture Festival has become an important platform for projecting Pakistan's soft image and positive cultural identity to the world.

Speaking at a press conference in Karachi on Wednesday about the third World Culture Festival 2026, Shah said the festival would begin on October 29 and continue until November 22.

He said Pakistan had historically been viewed internationally through the lens of terrorism, but cultural activities were now helping present a different image of the country.

"Artists coming from different parts of the world see Pakistan and its culture up close and return to their countries with a message of peace and positivity," he said.

The provincial minister claimed that the number of foreign tourists visiting Sindh's tourist destinations had increased by around 50% over the past three years. He said he believed the World Culture Festival had also contributed to this positive trend.

Shah said he had been associated with the festival alongside Arts Council President Muhammad Ahmed Shah from the first day to the last over the past three years.

The third edition of the festival will bring artists from around 150 countries to Karachi. More than 1,000 international artists are expected to participate, while over 500 Pakistani artists will also perform at different events.

The minister also highlighted Sindh's cultural heritage, describing it as a land of Sufis with a history spanning 5,000 years.

He said the poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai gave women a central role and highlighted their rights and dignity.

Shah said the Culture Department would continue to support the Arts Council and that efforts would be made to invite PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to the festival.

'We want to turn the entire area into an Art Village'

Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Haider Shah said the government's vision was to expand cultural activities beyond the Arts Council and transform the surrounding area into an "Art Village".

He said the area already had a museum and space for cultural activities, while the government was working to improve roads, lighting, seating and other public facilities.

The plan, he said, was to improve the area stretching from the Arts Council towards Burns Road for pedestrians and make it more attractive for residents and visitors.

Local communities and civil society were also being involved in the project, he said.

The chief secretary said the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, town administration, Water Board and deputy commissioner's office were among the institutions working on the initiative.

He said the government hoped to complete the project before winter.