The opening ceremony for the Pak Tajik Festival will be held tomorrow at the Convention Centre Islamabad as Pakistan and Tajikistan begin their first jointly organised cultural celebration. A high-level Tajik cultural delegation arrived in Islamabad, led by Ms. Sattoriyon Matlubakhon Amonzoda, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Tajikistan, and was welcomed by Federal Minister Aurangzeb Khan Khichi upon arrival.
During a meeting between Federal Minister Aurangzeb Khan Khichi and the Tajik Minister of Culture both sides emphasised the importance of cultural diplomacy and agreed to strengthen bilateral relations through increased people-to-people exchanges. The Pak Tajik Festival is intended to showcase shared traditions and to build long-term cultural ties between the two countries.
Organised by the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) in collaboration with the Pakistan National Council of the Arts and the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture, the two-day Pak Tajik Festival will take place at Lok Virsa from December 19 to 20. The festival will be open to visitors daily from noon to 8:00 pm and will turn the venue into a centre for traditional arts, crafts and performances.
Attendees can expect live artisan demonstrations and exhibitions of traditional handicrafts that highlight regional skills, alongside performances of folk music, dance and theatre. Authentic Pakistani and Tajik cuisine will be available, offering families an opportunity to experience both culinary traditions in Islamabad.
Special programming includes film screenings on Friday from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and a Farsi language seminar on Saturday at the same hour, adding an educational dimension to the festival. Cultural seminars will also focus on shared heritage and the historical links between Pakistan and Tajikistan.
Renowned Tajik artists Noziya Karomatullo, recipient of the Medal Hizmati Shoista, and Muhammadrafi Karomatullo, a Zasluzhenny Artist of Tajikistan, are scheduled to perform and bring their celebrated repertoire to Islamabad audiences. The presence of these artists underscores the festival’s role in promoting artistic exchange and mutual appreciation.
Organisers describe the Pak Tajik Festival as a family-friendly event that highlights the role of culture in building bridges and paving the way for enhanced cooperation. For Islamabad residents and visitors, the festival offers a rare chance to engage directly with Tajik cultural life and to deepen understanding between the neighbouring countries.
