Nauroz festival: ‘More cultural centres will be opened to strengthen ties’

‘Khana-e-Firhang closed 15 years ago in Multan to resume operations soon’.

MULTAN: The government of Iran plans to increase the number of its cultural centres in Pakistan to strengthen ties between the two countries, Iranian Consul General in Pakistan Agha Sadeghi Taghi said on Sunday. He was addressing the concluding ceremony of a two-day nauroz festival in Multan.

The consul general said these centres would offer classes in Persian to help overcome the language barrier between the people of the two countries.

He said the strengthening of relations between Iran and Pakistan would help bring together Muslims belonging to different sects all over the world. He said festivals like nauroz could be critical in educating Iranians and Pakistanis about each other’s cultures and help strengthen ties between the two countries.

The consul general announced that operations at a cultural centre (Khana-e-Firang) in Multan will soon resume. The centre was shutdown 15 years ago following the killing of the then head, Syed Muhammad Ali Rahimi, and seven others. Lashkar-i-Jhanghvi leader Malik Ishaq was arrested for the killings. His conviction by the Lahore High Court was overturned by the Supreme Court, where he was acquitted of the charges.

Religious scholars Allama Zameerul Hassan and Allama Ali Asghar also attended the ceremony. Their address at the ceremony highlighted the significance of nauroz festival in Shia tradition.

Earlier, six Iranian artists performed songs and recited poetry on the theme of nauroz.

A certificate distribution ceremony was also held on Sunday to honour the participants of a course on Persian language.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2012.