By Rafiq Vayani
KARACHI: The Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, in collaboration with the Government of Sindh, announced the third edition of the World Culture Festival 2026 at a press conference held here on Wednesday. The festival will commence on October 29 and continue until November 22.
President Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi Muhammad Ahmed Shah, Chief Secretary Sindh Syed Asif Haider Shah and Provincial Minister for Culture and Tourism Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah briefed the media on the festival programme, participation of local and international artists, cultural activities and administrative arrangements. Speaking at the press conference, Muhammad Ahmed Shah said the World Culture Festival had become an important reference point for Pakistan’s cultural identity. He said the first edition brought artists from 43 countries, the second saw participation from 144 countries, while artists from around 150 countries were expected to participate in the third edition.
He said more than 1,000 international artists would come to Karachi, while over 500 Pakistani artists would also participate in different programmes. The festival, he added, was not limited to music or theatre but aimed to bring various forms of art and culture together on a single platform. “Different parts of the world hold major festivals dedicated separately to music, dance or film, but the World Culture Festival brings multiple art forms together at one place,” he said. Mr Shah said the festival was also an initiative of cultural diplomacy aimed at addressing misconceptions about Pakistan, Sindh and Karachi.
International artists and delegates were being invited to Pakistan so that they could experience the country and its cultural life themselves and return with a positive message about Pakistan. He said when artists from 144 countries attended the festival last year, people in Karachi welcomed them warmly and invited them into their homes.
Around 20 government departments had also supported the event, while the Sindh government, Culture Department and other relevant institutions remained active partners in its organisation. He said the fundamental objective of the festival was to bring people closer through culture and convey a message of peace. Despite wars and conflicts in different parts of the world, artists from six continents, including the United States, Iran, Iraq, Palestine and Latin America, would participate in the festival.
Two theatre groups from Palestine would also take part, he said, adding that several artists associated with them had lost their lives in the conflict. Mr Shah said Karachi had experienced difficult times in the past because of linguistic divisions and the festival sought to bring together people belonging to different languages, regions and cultures on one platform. Artists from across Pakistan, including Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Punjab, Kashmir and the Saraiki region, would participate. He said the festival was not merely about inviting foreign artists to perform in Pakistan; Pakistani artists would also have opportunities to perform alongside international artists.
Fusion performances featuring Pakistani and foreign artists would be presented, while Sindh’s traditional instruments and musical heritage would receive special attention. A special “Mehran Night” would be organised to showcase Sindh’s art, music and culture. Referring to last year’s programme, Mr Shah recalled the joint performance by Akbar Khamiso Khan and a Belgian guest temple player, which had received an enthusiastic response from the audience. He said Pakistan possessed a rich and diverse musical heritage, ranging from classical and folk music to various regional traditions.
International artists had shown particular interest in traditional Pakistani instruments such as the algoza and Borindo, he added. Mr Shah said the festival was the result of the efforts of the Arts Council’s young team, staff, university graduates and volunteers. He appreciated the support of the Government of Sindh, particularly Chief Minister Sindh, saying that such a large-scale cultural initiative would not have been possible without government cooperation. He said the Sindh government, Culture Department and Arts Council had also jointly organised major programmes in Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur during last year’s “Marka-e-Haq”, attracting hundreds of thousands of people. “Our shared objective is to take Pakistan forward and present its positive image to the world,” he said.
Chief Secretary Sindh Syed Asif Haider Shah said the government’s vision was to expand cultural activities beyond the Arts Council and transform the surrounding area into an “Art Village”. He said the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, town administration, Water Board, Deputy Commissioner’s Office and other institutions were working together on the project.
Improvement of roads, installation of lighting and benches, food facilities and better pedestrian pathways were among the measures being undertaken. Efforts were being made to complete the work before winter. He said the Arts Council, museums and other cultural venues would be developed as part of an integrated cultural environment. Special teams were also working on arrangements for the reception of foreign delegations, security and traffic management, while federal ministries were extending their cooperation.
Provincial Minister for Culture and Tourism Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah said a large number of international artists had participated in the previous two editions and artists from various countries would again be visiting Pakistan this year. He said, on the directives of the Sindh chief minister and chief secretary, all relevant departments had been coordinated for the festival arrangements.
The Civil Aviation Authority, Airport Security Force, police and other security agencies were also being engaged in the planning process. The minister said Sindh was a land of Sufis with a history spanning around 5,000 years. He highlighted the contribution of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, particularly his portrayal of women as central figures in his poetry and his emphasis on their dignity and rights. Mr Shah said the Culture Department would continue its full cooperation with the Arts Council. He also called upon the governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan to organise more cultural activities to promote love, tolerance and peace across the country. He thanked media organisations and reporters for helping bring the festival’s activities to the public and urged families to register in advance to attend the World Culture Festival.
Around 80 per cent of the festival programmes would be free of charge and would require only prior registration, while tickets would be introduced for six to eight major mega concerts.
The provincial minister said the World Culture Festival had become an important vehicle for projecting Pakistan’s soft image. He said cultural festivals were helping change the country’s international perception by providing foreign artists and visitors an opportunity to experience Pakistan and its culture firsthand and take back a message of peace and positivity. He added that the number of foreign tourists visiting Pakistan’s tourist destinations had increased by around 50 per cent over the past three years, with cultural activities also contributing to the positive trend.
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