Art exhibition inaugurated at ACP as soft opening of Urdu Conference

The Arts Council of Pakistan (ACP) Karachi organised an exhibition of Pakistan’s master painters from Karachi at the Ahmed Pervez Art Gallery as part of the 17th Aalmi Urdu Conference - Jashan-e-Karachi.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Sindh Chief Secretary (CS) Syed Asif Hyder Shah and ACP President Muhammad Ahmed Shah. The CS said the ACP was not a new institution for him as he had been noticing Ahmed Shah for the past 12 years.

He said World Culture Festival was a significant challenge to undertake and its success was credited to Ahmed Shah. Asif said he was happy that the Aalmi Urdu Conference was being held as it was a breath of fresh air not only for Pakistan but also for the Pakistanis living abroad.

He remarked that the exhibition being held at the ACP was a treasure as it featured artworks by masters of painting ACP President Muhammad Ahmed Shah thanked the media for covering the ACP’s event and propagating it all over the world. He remarked that the exhibition was a soft opening of the 17th Aalmi Urdu Conference.

“We wanted the inauguration of this exhibition to be done by the Sindh chief secretary, who has also worked extensively in the fields of art and culture,” he said, adding that the ACP was the largest institution of the country for art and culture.

For the first time in 17 years, the inaugural session of the Aalmi Urdu Conference would be held outside the ACP at the YMCA Ground, Ahmed Shah explained. He said the Urdu Conference would be a major event in Karachi, where discussions would be held on Karachi's historical landmarks, music, dance, film, theatre, literature, fiction and criticism.

He said all the departments of the Sindh government under the guidance of the chief secretary provided full support for the security of the World Culture Festival. At the end of the event, Farrukh Shahab, Shahid Rassam and Tanweer Farooqi presented a bouquet to chief secretary.

Traffic plan

The Karachi Traffic Police on Wednesday issued a traffic diversion plan for the 17th Urdu International Conference.

The diversions are: MR Kayani Chowk to Aiwan-e-Saddar Road, Sindh Assembly (one side road) from Masjid Ahl-e-Hadith Court Road. Parking arrangements have been made for the guests and participants coming to the event at the following places: Sarwar Shaheed Road, in front of the Polo Ground near Aiwan-e-Saddar Road, in front of Court Road (Sindh Assembly building) and Faculty Library near the Arts Council.

Commercial vehicles are not allowed to pass through the following roads from the beginning to the end of the ceremony. Fawara Chowk to Aiwan-e-Saddar Road, Fawara Chowk to Din Mohammad Wafai Road, Khajur Chowk (Aiwan-e-Saddar Road) to Fawara Chowk and Shaheen Complex to MR Kayani Chowk.