Information Minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid Monday said culture made it easier for people to understand one another in a better way, thus enabling them to overcome cross cultural barriers.
Cultural diversity is the fundamental feature of the world’s cultures and the form of manifestation of world civilisation. It is a source of innovation, inspiration and progress for human society, he added.
The minister was addressing the First Plenary Session of 6th Asia-Europe (ASEM) Culture Minister’s Conference in Rotterdam, said a press release.
Rashid said cultural industries combined the creation, production and commercialization of creative contents. Knowledge, understanding and exploitation of creative industries not only allowed the efficient use of cultural assets but also generated opportunities by linking cultural heritage, skills, tradition and creativity that had existed for centuries in rural and urban communities.
It might further create potential for human resource development, which in turn would enhance productivity, he emphasized.
The minister said Pakistan had a rich cultural heritage and diversity, particularly in the field of arts and craft. Situated at the center of diverse cultural influences, its physical terrain had fostered the diversity of crafts since the beginning of the Indus Valley Civilization some 5,000 year ago.
The Indus River, he said, descended from the mountains in the north, passing through the green plains of the Punjab and desert of Sindh skirting Balochistan’s arid terrain and finally falling into the Arabian Sea.
He said the difference in culture and traditions of various regions had resulted in a wide range of arts and crafts that reflected the indigenous skills and culture environment.
Rashid said the government was well aware of the enormous potential of creative industry, its economic vitality and cultural projection as it acted as a vehicle for culture identity.
Efforts had been made to promote women entrepreneurship, cluster formation and developing close linkage between industry and academia, he added.
The entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises, the minister said, had accommodated about 78 percent of the non-agriculture work force.
He emphasized the need for more cultural interaction among various countries at regional and international level for better understanding and world peace.
He expressed his gratitude to the Netherlands for providing an opportunity to share experiences and deliberate upon the potentiality of creative industry. The minister hoped that the delegates would explore the economic development in the field of creative industry. Such fruitful interactions, he added, would also foster understanding and friendship among participating countries.
