KARACHI: Swiss Foreign Minister (FM) Ignazio Cassis on Sunday pledged to bring Switzerland and Pakistan closer.

He expressed his commitment to continue the series of meetings aimed at deepening ties between the two countries and affirmed his intention to visit Sindh again in future.

He was speaking at the “Melodies of Sindh” programme organised in his honour by the Sindh culture department at the Arts Council.

The Swiss FM, who witnessed with great interest the live presentation of different melodies on indigenous instruments and traditional dances on the occasion, said he was delighted to discover the culture and music of Pakistan and Sindh. “It is just enchanting being here with you in this very moment,” he said in his brief address.

Speaking at the programme, Sindh Culture Minister Syed Sardar Shah said the provincial government with the support of Unesco was trying its best to ensure the conservation and preservation of this world’s heritage, but “our resources are limited and so are the technical expertise to tackle such catastrophic challenges”. “There­fore, we request Your Excellency and your embassy in Islamabad for joining us in our efforts for saving our cultural and archaeological sites, which are in hundreds across the province,” he added.

The minister hoped that the Swiss mission in Islamabad would assist and guide to mitigate the challenges of climate change at the archaeological and heritage sites in Sindh.

In his address of welcome, Mayor Murtaza Wahab said Karachi was not only the commercial and financial capital of Pakistan, but it was also the cultural capital of the country.

He said the city contributed 60 per cent to the country’s GDP, saying that it was the financial lifeline of the country.

The mayor told the visiting foreign dignitaries that the Pakistan Peoples Party-led government in Sindh was endeavouring for the uplift of Karachi which had two ports and six industrial zones.

He invited the Swiss government to explore opportunities of investment in the province.

Earlier, Faqeer Zulfiqar Ali, a widely-recognised artist, played Boreendo, a clay sphere with strategically placed holes that produce a haunting and melodious wind sound when blown into.

Surando, a prominent and ancient string instrument from Sindh, was played by Muhammad Hassan Mirbahar, while Murli, a wind instrument popularly used by snake charmers, was played by Sattar Jogi and Akbar Khamiso Khan played Alghoza (instrument).

Sumera, along with her group, performed traditional dance on Sindhi folk song ‘Mor tho tilay rana’ while Taj Mastani, a unique and versatile folk and Sufi singer from Sindh, played two of the traditional music instruments called “Yaktaro” and “Chaprri” while singing.

The distinguished foreign guests were also presented ajrak, traditional Sindhi caps and replicas of the statues of ‘Dancing Girl’ and ‘King Priest’ excavated from Mohenjo Daro.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2023