ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi on Saturday said Pakistan and Uzbekistan enjoyed relations that went beyond formal diplomacy, with their bond drawing strength from shared history, culture and spiritual heritage.
He was speaking as chief guest at a special cultural concert, “Uzbekistan-Pakistan: Melodies of Friendship and Brotherhood,” held at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA). The event was organised by the Embassy of Uzbekistan to mark the 35th anniversary of the independence of Uzbekistan.
A large number of diplomats, senior officials and dignitaries from different countries attended the cultural evening.
Congratulating the government and people of Uzbekistan on the anniversary, the minister said the theme of the programme aptly reflected the close and warm ties between the two countries. He said poetry, music, art and ideas had travelled across the region for centuries and had helped bring the people of Pakistan and Uzbekistan closer.
“Music needs no translation. It speaks directly to people and reminds us of how much we share,” Khichi said. He welcomed the Uzbek artists visiting Pakistan and said their performances offered Pakistani audiences an opportunity to experience the richness of Uzbekistan’s culture and musical traditions.
The minister said Pakistan attached great importance to its cultural partnership with Uzbekistan and hoped that cooperation would further expand in the areas of heritage, museums, literature, music, performing arts, traditional crafts and exhibitions.
He also underlined the need to create more opportunities for young artists, writers and cultural professionals from both countries to interact, learn from each other and work together.
Khichi thanked the Embassy of Uzbekistan and Ambassador Alisher Tukhtaev for arranging the event, saying such initiatives played an important role in bringing the two peoples closer.
In his remarks, Ambassador Tukhtaev described the concert as a “cultural gift from the people of Uzbekistan to the friendly people of Pakistan.” He said it reflected the deep-rooted friendship and expanding partnership between the two brotherly countries.
The ambassador referred to the centuries-old links between the two societies through the Silk Road, which enabled the exchange of knowledge, literature, science, music and art.
He also recalled the shared legacy of Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur and highlighted recent steps aimed at strengthening people-to-people contacts. These included the naming of Tashkent Street in Islamabad, the ongoing Babur Park project, and sister-city relations between Samarkand and Islamabad as well as between Termez and Peshawar.
Tukhtaev said cultural, academic, educational and sports exchanges between the two countries were growing, while initiatives were also under way to promote Urdu language and scholarship in Uzbekistan.
Referring to the Uzbek president’s state visit to Pakistan earlier this year, he said the visit had given new momentum to cultural and humanitarian cooperation, including joint work for the preservation and promotion of the heritage of the Great Baburid Dynasty.
The ambassador announced that preparations were in progress for the “Days of Culture of Uzbekistan in Pakistan” later this year. He said a large Uzbek cultural delegation would visit Pakistan to present Uzbekistan’s historical heritage, traditional arts and contemporary cultural achievements.
He also spoke about improving connectivity between the two countries, saying six direct flights were currently operating every week between Tashkent and Lahore and Islamabad. Direct flights between Tashkent and Karachi would begin from September 3, he added.
Tukhtaev said better air links would help promote tourism, education, business, cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts.
The evening featured performances by distinguished Uzbek artists, who presented music and traditional dances reflecting the country’s rich cultural heritage and artistic traditions. The colourful dances and melodious presentations enthralled the audience and offered a glimpse of Uzbekistan’s diverse cultural life.
Through music and artistic expression, the performers celebrated the enduring friendship, brotherhood and mutual respect between the people of Pakistan and Uzbekistan. The performances also highlighted the longstanding historical and cultural affinities between the two countries and the role of cultural exchanges in deepening public contacts.
The programme concluded with expressions of goodwill and friendship between the two brotherly nations. Ambassador Tukhtaev expressed confidence that cultural ties would continue to grow and contribute to stronger bilateral relations.
