A high-level Turkish parliamentary delegation, led by Cemil Cicek, speaker of Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Turkey, visited Lok Virsa (National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage) here at Shakarparian.
On arrival, the distinguished guests were warmly received by Lok Virsa Executive Director Khalid Javaid and Deputy Director Anwaar-ul-Haq.
While conducting this high profile visit, the Lok Virsa ED briefed the speaker on important aspects of Pakistan’s traditional culture with special emphasis on the mandate and functioning of Lok Virsa as a specialised cultural body charged with the objectives for collection, documentation and preservation of cultural heritage.
Later, the delegation was taken around various three-dimensional creative displays depicting living cultural traditions and lifestyles of the people at the Pakistan National Museum of Ethnology, popularly known as Heritage Museum.
The museum houses 25 large galleries and several link passages presenting Pakistan’s cultural history and influences with other neighbouring countries such as China, Central Asian States and Iran.
The delegation greatly lauded Lok Virsa’s efforts in documenting and preserving the indigenous folk culture of Pakistan through three-dimensional cultural displays.
Cemil Cicek and his team members took keen interest in the displays on folk tales, Sufis and shrines, wedding rituals in Cholistan desert, silk thread and Central Asian Gallery.
While recording his comments on the visitors’ book, the Turkish grand assembly speaker wrote, “I am very much impressed to see the culture of Pakistan which has been presented in this museum beautifully. Pakistan has a very rich, diverse and colourful culture. I commend the authorities of Lok Virsa.”
