By Ali Imran
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Spain on Wednesday agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in culture, heritage preservation, archaeology, museums, literature, education and cultural diplomacy as both sides reaffirmed their commitment to translating longstanding friendly relations into practical institutional collaboration.
The understanding was reached during a meeting between Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi and Ambassador of Spain to Pakistan Carlos Aragón Gil de la Serna, who called on the minister at the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture.
Welcoming the ambassador, the minister said Pakistan highly valued its historic and cultural ties with Spain and was keen to expand cooperation in heritage conservation, archaeological research, museum development, literary exchanges, cultural festivals and academic partnerships.
Pakistan, Spain agree to deepen cooperation in culture, heritage preservation
He said culture served as a bridge between nations, promoting mutual understanding and strengthening people-to-people contacts.
Recalling his visit to Barcelona, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi described it as a memorable experience and appreciated Spain’s rich cultural heritage, hospitality and architectural excellence.
He also noted the positive contribution of the Pakistani community living in Spain in business and other professions, saying it had further strengthened ties between the two countries. The minister also expressed appreciation for Spanish cuisine.
Referring to the Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural, Educational and Scientific Cooperation signed in Madrid on April 25, 2007, the minister said the agreement had laid the foundation for institutional exchanges, reciprocal visits of students and experts, academic cooperation, exchange of educational information, recognition of qualifications and regular bilateral reviews to promote cultural activities.
Highlighting the literary links between the two countries, the minister said the poetry and philosophy of Allama Muhammad Iqbal enjoyed considerable recognition in Spain.
He noted that Iqbal’s works, including Masjid-i-Qurtaba and The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam, had been translated into Spanish and proposed enhanced collaboration among universities, libraries and cultural institutions to promote Iqbal studies, literary exchanges and translation projects.
The minister also underscored Pakistan’s rich archaeological heritage, particularly its Gandhara and Buddhist civilization, and invited Spain to collaborate in archaeological surveys, conservation projects, museum development, restoration of heritage sites and professional capacity-building.
He proposed negotiating a new Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural and Heritage Cooperation between Pakistan’s National Heritage and Culture Division and Spain’s Ministry of Culture, covering joint archaeological surveys, conservation initiatives, museum exchanges, specialised training programmes, cultural festivals, art exhibitions, literary translations and academic collaboration.
He further stressed the importance of exchanging promotional material, cultural exhibitions, archaeological displays and academic delegations to strengthen cultural diplomacy and showcase Pakistan’s heritage to Spanish audiences.
Inviting the ambassador to participate in the annual Lok Mela, the minister said the flagship cultural festival attracted millions of visitors every year, with around four million attending the previous edition. He invited Spain to showcase its traditional cuisine, music, dance, handicrafts and other artistic expressions at the event.
He also introduced the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) and invited the ambassador to visit its premier art gallery in Islamabad to explore opportunities for artistic collaboration.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Carlos Aragón Gil de la Serna appreciated Pakistan’s rich cultural and historical heritage and reaffirmed Spain’s interest in expanding cooperation in culture, archaeology, heritage preservation, museums, education and literary exchange.
He said he had many close friends within the Pakistani community living in Spain and acknowledged their positive contribution to Spanish society.
The ambassador highlighted Spain’s rich Islamic heritage, particularly its historic Islamic monuments and calligraphic traditions, and said Spanish scholars were translating the philosophical works of Allama Muhammad Iqbal into Spanish, reflecting the enduring intellectual connection between Iqbal and Spain.
He noted that Spain was home to one of the world’s largest numbers of UNESCO-recognised heritage sites and remained committed to preserving and promoting its cultural legacy.
Referring to his visits to museums in Peshawar and Taxila, the ambassador described Pakistan’s Gandhara civilisation and archaeological heritage as remarkable.
He also admired Lahore’s traditional kite-flying culture and appreciated the role of the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) in promoting international languages, noting that Spanish had become one of the increasingly popular
foreign languages being studied in Pakistan.
During the meeting, Secretary National Heritage and Culture Division Asad Rehman Gillani informed the ambassador that Islamabad would host an International Writers’ Conference and expressed the hope that prominent Spanish authors and literary figures would participate.
He also invited the ambassador to visit the Gandhara Gallery at the Islamabad Museum, where recently repatriated antiquities are on display.
The two sides agreed to remain in close contact and transform the proposals discussed during the meeting into practical initiatives aimed at strengthening cultural cooperation, deepening institutional linkages and reinforcing the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and Spain.
