French Ambassador to Pakistan Philippe Thiébaud and Aga Khan Cultural Service (AKCSP) Chairman Akbarali Pesnani signed a partnership-agreement for a budget of $175,000 on Wednesday.
The objective of this collaboration is to encourage skill development and artistic expression among the youth to promote diversity and sustainable development.
Two projects have been developed to promote cultural diversity in KP, Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral. They would offer an exceptional range of natural and cultural resources.
The first project titled “Skill Development in Heritage-Based Planning and Construction” will aim to promote and strengthen traditional arts including embroidery, tapestry, cutting, sewing and upholstery in Chitral, with the objective to develop and sustain human and financial capital at the community level. The second project, “Display of Performing Arts and Handicrafts”, will display traditional aspects of these regions to a wider audience at the Serena Hotel and Alliance Française in Islamabad, in January.
The Aga Khan Foundation and the French government are committed to implement a regional health programme in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan for the next three years.