Capital to host Kyrgyz cultural days

Festival will feature handicrafts, art exhibits, music and film screenings

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ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan is set to host a vibrant celebration of Central Asian heritage as Kyrgyz Cultural Days are scheduled to take place in the federal capital during the final week of March 2026. Organised on the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the one-to-two-day festival will present a rich display of Kyrgyz handicrafts, traditional cuisine, costumes, visual arts and photography exhibitions, alongside film screenings and music and dance performances. The visiting delegation from Kyrgyzstan will be accorded full hospitality.

The cultural showcase forms part of a broader vision articulated by Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Muhammad Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, in an exclusive interview. Reflecting on Pakistan's expanding cultural diplomacy, the minister outlined an ambitious agenda encompassing international partnerships, heritage preservation and institutional reform — signalling a concerted effort to project the country's ancient civilisational legacy onto the global stage.

In addition to the Kyrgyz festivities, Pakistan is preparing to host Nowruz celebrations, extending invitations to several friendly nations, including Kyrgyzstan. The events underscore a wider strategy of cultural engagement which, the minister observed, is essential to presenting Pakistan's peaceful image and strengthening people-to-people ties across borders.

A key milestone in this endeavour will be the forthcoming launch of a National Culture Policy, also initiated under the prime minister's guidance. Developed with contributions from all provinces to ensure inclusivity, the policy seeks to safeguard Pakistan's cultural identity while empowering artists, writers and creative practitioners. Described by the minister as a national mission, it is intended to enhance Pakistan's soft image and reinforce its standing as a cradle of ancient civilisation.

Pakistan's cultural ambitions are further reflected in plans to expand the country's network of bilateral cultural agreements. The ministry aims to increase existing accords — currently numbering around 86 — to approximately 125 in the near future, fostering a broader framework for artistic and educational exchange. By the end of the year, Pakistan's first degree-awarding fine arts institution is expected to commence operations, complementing art classes already introduced at Lok Virsa.

Simultaneously, digitisation initiatives are under way to modernise the National Library of Pakistan, the Pakistan Academy of Letters and the National Language Promotion Department. These measures aim to preserve and make accessible the nation's literary and linguistic heritage for future generations.

The minister also revealed that documentary projects are in production to showcase Pakistan's archaeological wealth to international audiences, highlighting both ancient sites and the country's diverse artistic traditions. Such initiatives, he said, position culture and heritage as central pillars of Pakistan's diplomatic engagement.