LAHORE, Nov 24: A 10-day World Performing Arts festival, 2004, will kick off at the Alhamra Cultural Complex in Qadhafi Stadium from Saturday.

Speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday, Rafi Peer Theatre's Usman Peerzada and Faizan Peerzada said that all arrangements had been finalized to organise a 'mega event' in the provincial metropolis. They said that special security arrangements had been made.

They said more than 600 artistes of various countries would perform in various disciplines of performing arts like dance, theatre, music, and puppetry. They said the festival would provide an opportunity for communication through arts, bridging distances and allowing the unified image of a global culture to emerge on a singular platform.

Thy said that some 60 art, feature and documentary movies of 15 countries would also be screened in the festival. Artistes of various countries like Portugal, Germany, USA, Netherlands, India, Uzbekistan, Switzerland, Egypt, Algeria, France, Morraco, Turkey, Austria, Africa, Iran, Norway, Bulgaria, Italy and Pakistan will perform in the festival.