Amidst colourful festivity to mark the 33rd year of Islamic Revolution in Iran, a weeklong ‘Cultural Week of Iran’ has kicked off at National Arts Gallery (NAG) of Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) here on Thursday. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan was the chief guest while officials of the Iranian Embassy, PNCA, a number of art lovers and students attended the inaugural event. Taqi Sadeghi, cultural counsel of the Iranian Embassy was also present.
Addressing on the occasion, the federal minister said this exhibition was indeed a step forward not only in celebrating the Iranian revolution but also in promoting cultural ties between the two countries. “I congratulate Iranian people and its leadership on the eve of celebrations of Iranian Revolution (also known as the Islamic Revolution or 1979 Revolution),” she said. “The information ministry has also planned to make a number of documentary movies in collaboration with Iran’s news agency on the philosophy of Allama Muhammad Iqbal on a number of themes including ‘Khudi’ to impart the message to next generations of both the countries,” Awan said.
She said Pakistan and Iran share the common tradition, cultural heritage and religious values and both the countries are striving to safeguard these common values through art and culture. “Friendship between Pakistan and Iran will further strengthen through people-to-people contact and we will surely face all challenges including the menace of terrorism to make both the countries safe and prosperous,” she said. The minister said the government of Pakistan will also produce documentary movies in collaboration with the Iranian government on the lives and teachings of the Muslim heroes of both the countries to impart knowledge to youth.
Earlier, cultural counselor of Iran Embassy, Taqi Sadeghi, said the weeklong festival was a part of Iranian Revolution wherein the artists from Iran showed the development of Iran through diversified means. “According to Ayatullah Khamini, the great leader of Iran, a nation without strong cultural institutions is like a mute person who could not communicate in any of language,” said Sadeghi.
The cultural counselor said it was a matter of pleasure that Iran and Pakistan were enjoying their cultural ties that would surely strengthen their socioeconomic relations. He also recited Iqbal’s verses with a message of cooperation, unification and tolerance. Sadeghi appreciated the management of PNCA for their cordial cooperation. The festival included paintings and photography exhibitions which highlighted the life and works of Ayatollah Khomeini and other political leaders and development of Iran in various fields.
