Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi at a press conference recently gave details to the media on ‘World Culture Festival Karachi.’ President Arts Council, Muhammad Ahmed Shah, along with renowned intellectual and humorist Anwar Maqsood, actor, theatre director Khalid Ahmed, Prof. Ejaz Ahmed Farooqi and Qudsia Akbar spoke on the occasion. Muhammad Ahmed Shah announced that the ‘World Culture Festival Karachi’ will begin on September 26th and continue till October 30th, 2024.

The festival will have more than 34 countries participating from around the world. The festival will feature more than 100 cultural performances by more than 350 artists, including theatre, music, dance groups, and fine arts from Pakistan and abroad. He further added that before the Aalmi Urdu Conference, the Arts Council usually hosts the Youth Festival, Theatre Festival, Music Festival and Dance Festival. However, this time, they are bringing the largest festival in Pakistan’s history, named the ‘World Culture Festival Karachi.’  He mentioned that during the last Pakistan Theatre Festival, seven countries participated, and although they initially planned to organize another Pakistan Theatre Festival, the overwhelming response from embassies and music and dance artists led them to expand the event into a World Culture Festival.

There would be a fusion of various music and dance forms from around the world, with workshops and talks alongside performances, open to Arts Council students and others through registration. He explained that all groups will perform with Arts Council students at various universities and communities. “Previously the artists found great joy in performing at all these locations. We will also showcase Pakistan’s folk music, theatre and dance,” Ahmed Shah revealed highlighting that Pakistan’s culture, artists, and heritage were rich, and the festival would also include qawwali and classical dance. Performances by Akhtar Chanal, Wahab Bugti, Mai Dhai, instrumentalist Abdullah, and Faqir Zulfiqar, as well as instruments like sarangi and flute were to be part of the festival aimed to create a universal music experience with international artists.  He also mentioned being in continuous contact with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who has fully supported the festival and assured security arrangements. While there have been visa issues between India and Pakistan, efforts are being made to include as many artists from various countries as possible.

Renowned humorist and writer Anwar Maqsood remarked that just as Allama Iqbal had a dream, Ahmed Shah had a dream of bringing together 40 countries in one place, which is indeed a dream. “Ahmed Shah will make this happen, and this programme will surely be successful.” He noted that for 77 years, the nation has not been truly happy, but perhaps this festival will bring some joy. He was pleased that groups from Jaipur and Mumbai would be participating and that artists from all over the world are coming to this festival.

Theatre director Khalid Ahmed added that this festival is going to be a huge one. He expressed amazement at the scale of the festival, acknowledging that the challenges were not easy, but it was a great learning opportunity for students to understand how people think globally.