Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Division Aurangzeb Khan Khichi reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast support for the Kashmir cause and urged young people to keep the Kashmir narrative alive through sustained cultural and intellectual engagement.
The appeal came at a special event titled “The Kashmir Case: In the Voice of the Young Generation,” organised by the Pakistan Academy of Letters under the National Heritage and Culture Division at the Faiz Ahmed Faiz Auditorium. The forum brought together students, scholars and policymakers to highlight Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to raise the issue at international platforms.
The session was presided over by former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan and attended by Federal Minister and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon, Kashmiri scholar Dr Samiullah Malik and Federal Secretary Asad Rehman Gilani. Chairperson of PAL Dr Najeeba Arif facilitated the programme aimed at amplifying youth voices on Kashmir.
The ceremony began with the national anthem, followed by a recitation from the Holy Quran by Hassan Ahmed of Punjab Group of Colleges and a Naat presented by Jibran Haider. Students from Punjab Group of Colleges and Government Postgraduate College H-9 took part, with the latter staging a play titled “The Kashmir Case” that portrayed the suffering and resilience of the Kashmiri people.
Federal Secretary Asad Rehman Gilani described the Kashmir issue as part of Pakistan’s cultural responsibility and called for continuous intellectual and artistic efforts to sustain the Kashmir narrative for future generations.
Dr Samiullah Malik outlined the historical and international dimensions of the dispute and paid tribute to Kashmiri sacrifices, urging youth to engage critically and place the Kashmir narrative before the global conscience through research, literature and public discourse.
Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon said Kashmir remains integral to Pakistan’s identity and drew parallels with other long-standing struggles, stressing the importance of incorporating Kashmir into the national curriculum so that younger generations understand the cause and its history.
In his presidential remarks Sardar Masood Khan reflected on the enduring nature of the Kashmiri struggle and noted that Pakistan now has an opportunity to present the issue to the world with renewed resolve and a firmer stance.
Dr Najeeba Arif emphasised literature as a powerful vehicle for shaping national awareness, preserving memory and promoting dialogue. PAL distributed its publications among participating students as souvenirs, underscoring the academy’s commitment to keeping the Kashmir narrative alive through cultural and educational outreach.
