By Ali Imran
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi on Friday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening cultural diplomacy and people-to-people contacts with Kazakhstan as he held a farewell meeting with Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Yerzhan Kistafin, to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in culture, heritage, education and tourism.
Pakistan, Kazakhstan agree to expand cultural cooperation, heritage exchanges
Welcoming the Ambassador, the minister appreciated his valuable contributions to promoting Pakistan-Kazakhstan cultural relations during his tenure and expressed confidence that the close cooperation established between the two countries would continue under his successor.
The meeting reviewed ways to further strengthen collaboration in cultural heritage preservation, educational cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.
Ambassador Kistafin highlighted the deep historical, cultural and brotherly ties between Pakistan and Kazakhstan, as well as the wider Central Asian region, stressing the need to revive and further strengthen these longstanding relations.
He expressed optimism that direct flights between Kazakhstan and Pakistan would commence next year, facilitating greater tourism, trade and cultural exchanges.
He also highlighted Kazakhstan’s educational cooperation with Pakistan through scholarship opportunities for Pakistani students.
Aurangzeb Khan Khichi said that, as agreed between the two sides, the visit of the Prime Minister of Pakistan to Kazakhstan is expected to take place next year, providing an important opportunity to further expand bilateral cooperation.
The Ambassador informed the minister that Astana is home to several renowned cultural institutions, including the Opera Theatre, Ballet Theatre and National Theatre, and proposed organizing joint cultural performances during the Prime Minister’s visit.
He said performances by artists and musicians from both countries would symbolize the strong cultural partnership between Pakistan and Kazakhstan and extended an invitation to the federal minister and his delegation to visit Kazakhstan to explore new avenues of cultural cooperation.
The minister assured the Ambassador that the National Heritage and Culture Division and its attached organizations, including Lok Virsa, would continue working closely with the Embassy of Kazakhstan to further deepen bilateral cultural relations under the guidance of the Prime Minister.
Aurangzeb Khan Khichi also informed the Ambassador that recommendations regarding a Pakistani cultural delegation had already been approved. He said the delegation would comprise a music teacher, a scholar and two instrumentalists who are also teachers, adding that Pakistan looks forward to receiving the formal invitation from Kazakhstan to finalize the necessary arrangements.
Ambassador Kistafin informed the minister that Kazakhstan had prepared a comprehensive joint Action Plan covering a wide range of cultural activities, describing it as one of the most extensive cooperation plans Kazakhstan has with any partner country and a reflection of the shared commitment of both nations to strengthening cultural ties.
Welcoming the proposal, the minister directed the relevant stakeholders to immediately begin work on developing the proposed initiatives to ensure their implementation during the anticipated visit of the Prime Minister.
Highlighting Pakistan’s flagship annual cultural festival, Lok Mela, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi invited Kazakhstan to participate with its artists and cultural groups in future editions of the festival. The Ambassador welcomed the invitation, recalling Kazakhstan’s previous participation and expressing his country’s willingness to further expand cultural exchanges through the event.
The minister also proposed organizing a special exhibition in Kazakhstan showcasing Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage through archaeological artefacts, traditional artwork, photographs and audio-visual presentations depicting the country’s history, geography and cultural diversity.
He said the exhibition would present Pakistan as a cradle of ancient civilizations by highlighting the heritage of Gandhara Buddhism, the Indus Valley Civilization, Islamic civilization and the contributions of various faith communities, reflecting the country’s rich cultural and religious diversity.
The Ambassador appreciated the proposal, describing it as an excellent initiative that would provide international audiences with a unique opportunity to experience Pakistan’s rich heritage while further strengthening cultural understanding and friendship between the two countries.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to expanding cultural cooperation and implementing the initiatives outlined in the bilateral Action Plan for the mutual benefit of Pakistan and Kazakhstan.
