Cultural collaboration, diplomacy stressed to bridge gaps

LAHORE

The two-day Lahore International Cultural Conference concluded here with pledges of bridging various gaps through cultural collaborations and diplomacy. The conference was organised by the Youth Revolution Clan, Australian High Commission, City District Government Lahore and the Urban Unit, Government of the Punjab. 

The conference was first of its kind bringing together international delegates from some 10 countries discussing a variety of themes in different panel discussions, plenary, roundtables and lectures. A large number of participants from academia, media, government departments, NGOs and civil society representatives attended the event.

Australian High Commissioner Ms Margret Adamson, CEO Cultural Invasion Australia Peter Mousefardis, Member Cultural Invasion Australia Ms Nivy Balchandran, MNA Ms Shaista Pervaiz, renowned anchor Suhail Warraich, Lahore Commissioner Abdullah Sumbal, DG Protocol, Education Minister Rana Mashhood and renowned artiste Ms Saleema Hashmi spoke during various sessions in the event.

Speaking on the closing ceremony of LICC, the CEO Urban Unit Dr Nasir Javed said: “The Urban Unit feels proud to have partnered with YRC and others for organising first Lahore International Cultural Conference 2016. Such conferences bringing a number of individuals and organisations together from a variety of countries, cultures and civilisations across the world are one of the most effective and reliable mode of collaborations and partnerships between like-minded organisations and movements apart from bridging various gaps. For us cities are places where citizens live so these are more than structures – a wonderful mixture of modernised buildings and rich cultural heritage we inherit from our forefathers.”

The conference was themed "Portraying a Positive Pakistan”. The participants asserted that such dialogue need to be arranged at different levels, and must not be limited to formal discussions. “These surely bring us closer together in concrete forms of collaboration, for human development, peace, justice and a progressive world above all. Such a dialogue can encourage us to explore together the means of developing better communities, they said. 

A special exhibition of paintings sent by Army Public School Peshawar students was arranged during the event. Education Minister Rana Mashhood has congratulated YRC, CDG Lahore, the Urban Unit and other partners for successful completion of the LICC. The next edition of LICC is expected to take place in Australia next year.