ISLAMABAD, Wednesday, July 9, 2025 (WNP): Pakistan and Uzbekistan have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cultural cooperation, fostering heritage exchange, and strengthening people-to-people ties during a high-level meeting between Uzbek Ambassador Alisher Tukhtaev and Pakistan’s Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Muhammad Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, here on Wednesday.
Ambassador Tukhtaev praised Minister Khichi’s participation in the recent Samarkand celebrations (May 26–28), which marked the city’s recognition as the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World. He said the Minister’s presence highlighted Pakistan’s active role in promoting civilizational dialogue within the Islamic world.
The ambassador proposed a broad range of initiatives to enhance cultural collaboration, including:
- Hosting Uzbek Cinema Days in Pakistan,
- Organizing Mutual Culture Days,
- Showcasing Pakistani exhibits at the Center of Islamic Civilization opening in Tashkent this August,
- Signing a new bilateral cultural cooperation agreement,
- Holding joint academic conferences on the Baburid dynasty,
- Co-producing documentaries, particularly on Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur,
- Translating classical literary works, especially those of Allama Iqbal and Alisher Navoi,
- And jointly preserving Islamic manuscripts and heritage sites.
He also emphasized the significance of facilitating cultural tourism between the two countries, noting the availability of direct flights between Islamabad and Tashkent and simplified visa procedures, which encourage more frequent cultural exchanges.
Minister Khichi warmly welcomed the ambassador’s proposals and expressed appreciation for Uzbekistan’s hospitality during his visit to Samarkand. He voiced Pakistan’s readiness to renew the expired 2021 Memorandum of Understanding on cultural cooperation and initiate new agreements to further institutionalize cultural ties.
He also stressed the importance of fully utilizing the 90-minute direct flight connection to promote tourism, student exchanges, and cultural interaction between the two brotherly nations with shared history and faith.
Minister Khichi assured full support for Pakistan’s participation in the upcoming international exhibition in Tashkent and conveyed keen interest in organizing joint exhibitions of art, music, and literature.
Secretary of the National Heritage and Culture Division, also present at the meeting, highlighted the availability of 52 skilled architects in Pakistan and suggested regular bilateral meetings to facilitate collaboration on heritage conservation and cultural development projects.
Ambassador Tukhtaev expressed admiration for Pakistan’s rich cultural landscape, particularly its music, cuisine, and arts, lauding the traditional food displayed at the Lok Mela at Lok Virsa as “fantastic.”
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their resolve to translate proposals into concrete initiatives, making cultural diplomacy a cornerstone of Pakistan-Uzbekistan bilateral relations.
Usman Shah, CEO of Niftysphere Institute of Arts and Designing, also attended the meeting.
