Cultural diversity of Pakistan put on display

Islamabad
First Pakistan Festival of Cultural Diversity was launched here on Wednesday at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) amidst regional rhythms.
An exhibition of art and craft depicting Pakistan’s cultural diversity and crafts was also inaugurated by Muhammad Imtiaz Tajwar, Secretary Federal Education and Professional Training, was the chief guest.
The guests of honour included Vibeke Jensen, Director Unesco Pakistan, Adel Elarbi, Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia to Pakistan, Riffat Mushtaq, founder and the chairperson of the Roots School System, Hafiz Sher Ali, Secretary General Pakistan National Commission for Unesco (PNCU),and Ghulam Rasul Anjum, Director PNCA.
The Roots Schools Ivy and DHA put up very impressive presentation of Pakistani cultures and the cultures of friendly countries like China, Turkey, Germany, Spain, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. The very well students clad in the traditional dresses of the respective countries also performed the iconic cultural presentations.
The students of Government Postgraduate College for Women, 6th Road, Satellite Town, and Fatima Jinnah Women University and some students of the Rawalpindi Arts Council put on display their paintings, and some designs portraying the cultural evolution in Pakistan and across the globe.
UNESCO adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity in 2001 and, in December 2002, the UN General Assembly, in its resolution 57/249, declared May 21 to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. Since, then the day provides us with an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to learn to live together better.
Munir Ahmed, the Festival Director and the Director Development Communications Network (Devcom-Pakistan) while introducing the event said, “The Pakistan Festival of Cultural Diversity is launched to showcase the cultural diversity of Pakistan and other countries to mark the Unesco’s World Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development that is celebrated on May 21 every year around the world. He said that the festival has engage youth along with senior artists, crafts persons and those practicing cultural diversity through different mediums.
It is pertinent to educate youth in particular, and the masses in general about the importance of diversity of cultures to create harmony and social peace. The consistent and lasting peace among the diverse ethnic groups would foster social and economic development.
“Pakistan Festival of Cultural Diversity would be historic turn in the promotion and realisation of the importance of the cultural diversity, and I believe it would become Pakistan’s cultural face on the global cultural diversity map”, said Munir Ahmed.
Muhammad Imtiaz Tajwar, Secretary Federal Education and Professional Development, said Cultural diversity is our shared heritage and the greatest opportunity before humanity. It holds the promise of renewal and dynamism, and an engine of innovation and development. It is also an invitation to dialogue, discovery and cooperation. Today, cultural diversity is under attack by violent extremists and their crimes confirm that the enemies of human dignity will always seek to destroy cultural diversity, because it is the symbol of freedom thought and the infinite creativity of the human being, he added. Unesco Director Vibeke Jensen said, Pakistan is an incredibly diverse society which is so rich in terms of local culture and languages, creativity and cultural expressions that more than anywhere else, it makes sense to celebrate cultural diversity Day.
She said, this diversity can sometimes be seen as a source of conflict but in Unesco we prefer to emphasize the opportunity for peace and sustainable development it also represents. From audio-visual design to production, performing arts to new media, from publishing to the visual arts, Pakistan cultural diversity is a creative diversity. It is a source of employment and income, conveying identities and collective benchmarks, contributing to social cohesion and self-esteem in our globalized world.
Vibeke Jensen said, “My special thanks to Munir Ahmed for taking the lead and engaging everyone to make the event successful. On this day of Cultural Diversity and dialogue, let us walk forward together, guided by the spirit of mutual respect and understanding and appreciate each other’s creativity and fail those seeking conflicts and deepen divisions. This is the strongest foundation on which to address global challenges, drawing on solidarity and understanding between all peoples.”
Riffat Mushtaq, Founder and Chairperson of the Roots School System, said, “Celebrating the cultural diversity day is another step towards promoting world peace and congruence. This 3-day event will provide an excellent platform for the promotion of international understanding and intercultural awareness that is necessary to prepare our children to contribute to developing the global vision. She said, showcasing of diverse cultures will foster respect and understanding of peoples of the world as valuing different cultures, respecting and understanding the beliefs of others. Since 1988, Roots Schools have been promoting Pakistan’s rich heritage customs, traditions and folklore and will continue to do so.
Hafiz Sher Ali, Secretary General PNCU said, Pakistan National Commission for Unesco is responsible to mainstream the Unesco objectives that Pakistan government has endorsed through different activities in partnership with other government and non-governmental organisations. The engagement of different stakeholders to promote cultural diversity and educate the citizens especially the students about the importance and respect for the cultural diversity is one of the core functions of the PNCU. But, the lack of resources mars the PNCU performance.
The Pakistan Festival of Cultural Diversity is being done by pooling of resources by the partners. The Pakistan government and the Unesco Pakistan shall try to harness the potential of the very important department of the Ministry of Education and Training by granting special funds so that youth engagement should be ensured in all diverse and creative pursuits of education and grooming.