KARACHI: City authorities on Tuesday announced their full support for the upcoming World Culture Festival, describing it as a major initiative to showcase Karachi as a peaceful and culturally vibrant metropolis.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi at the Arts Council of Pakistan.

Briefing the media along with Arts Council President Ahmed Shah, the commissioner said it had been decided that all civic and security agencies, including KMC, town administrations, police, SSU and Civil Defence, would jointly ensure the success of the festival, which is being organised by the Arts Council with the provincial government’s support from Oct 29 to Nov 22, 2026.

Mr Naqvi said the event should project Karachi’s positive and progressive image and directed departments to follow the chief minister and chief secretary’s instructions to ensure international guests left the city with a lasting positive impression.

He said that foolproof security would be provided at all venues and routes, while KMC and towns would beautify the venues and major roads with festival branding and improve sanitation.

“Foreign delegates will be taken to landmarks including the University of Karachi, NED University, SZABIST and Mazar-i-Quaid,” he added.

The arts council president said that over 1,000 artists from more than 150 countries and 500 Pakistani artists were expected to participate. “The programme will feature theatre, music, painting and dance from over 30 countries including the US, Iran and Russia,” he added.

DC South Javed Nabi Khosa will oversee liaison, with a facilitation desk to be set up at the arts council. The meeting also decided to bring a large number of schoolchildren to the festival for cultural exchange.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2026