Ambassador Atadjan Movlamov of Turkmenistan met Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Division Aurangzeb Khan Khichi in Islamabad on October 15 to advance cultural ties between the two countries. The meeting underlined a shared history and common cultural foundations and moved forward plans to formalise a Programme on Cooperation in the Field of Culture for 2024–2026 between Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Culture and Pakistan’s National Heritage and Culture Division.
The Federal Minister highlighted the importance of strengthening people-to-people connections alongside existing trade and business links, saying that cultural exchanges can deepen mutual understanding. He noted that direct flights of under two hours create a practical opportunity to boost tourism and artistic collaboration, and pointed to Pakistan’s rich civilisational heritage spanning more than 5,000 years including Gandhara, Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro as compelling reasons for greater cultural engagement.
Both sides agreed to nominate focal persons from their respective ministries to speed up finalisation of the memorandum of understanding and to organise joint cultural events. The Minister proposed reciprocal cultural festivals in Pakistan and Turkmenistan and invited Turkmenistan to participate in Lok Mela 2025, scheduled from November 7 to 16 at the Lok Virsa Complex in Islamabad. The Ambassador accepted the invitation and confirmed Turkmen participation.
Plans were also shared to hold a special cultural evening at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts where performances and exhibits will showcase Pakistan’s heritage and provide a platform for diplomatic and cultural exchange. The Turkmen Ambassador assured full cooperation in strengthening bilateral cultural ties and stressed cooperation to leverage cultural initiatives for broader economic and tourism benefits.
Asad Rehman Gillani, Secretary of the National Heritage and Culture Division, described the forthcoming cultural cooperation programme as the start of a new era of friendship and people-to-people engagement between Pakistan and Turkmenistan. He outlined ambitions for artist and writer exchanges, joint exhibitions, conferences and events that highlight shared traditions and heritage preservation.
The proposed cooperation also foresees translation and publication of literary works, cultural seminars and participation in each other’s national festivals, creating sustained avenues for cultural dialogue and reinforcing historic bonds between the two nations.
