KARACHI: Although, the World Culture Festival organised by the Arts Council of Pakistan still has a week to round off its programmes, an award distribution ceremony was held on Saturday evening for those artists and groups who have, up until now, taken part in the event.

The evening began with a show reel of the council’s achievements in recent years. Then the council’s president, Ahmed Shah, came to the podium and addressed the audience comprised of a big number of foreign dignitaries.

He acknowledged the support that the Sindh government and local administration have lent to the festival. Mr Shah announced that the council is going to hold a bigger event in 2025.

After that, awards were given.

In the beginning, special were ones given to, among others, the consulates of the UAE, South Korea, Japan, the US, Spain, Turkiye and Qatar, the Goethe Institut, and a lifetime achievement award for renowned writer Anwar Maqsood. It was followed by awards for local and international artists who presented their works during the festival.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah was the chief guest on the occasion. He thanked all those who have taken part in the festival as well as those who helped made the event possible. He said politics has been able to bring all the different cultures together. “Ahmed Shah and the Pakistan Peoples Party are moving together since 2008. The Sindh government will keep supporting the council. The council must keep doing such work so that the city of lights remains illuminated.”

He appreciated the council for holding a 38-day-long event, a world record. He said the crime rate in Karachi has come down, but there are issues of law and order.

In the second segment of the programme on Saturday, two dance performances, Ballet De Barcelona (Spain) and Cocoon Dance (Germany) entertained the audience.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2024