A high-level delegation of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), led by H.E. Prof. Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of ALECSO (Mauritania), called on Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi at his office on Tuesday to discuss avenues for strengthening cultural cooperation between Pakistan and the Arab world.
H.E. Prof. Dr. Mohammed Sanad Subeh Darwish, Director of the Department of Science and Scientific Research (Jordan); H.E. Prof. Dr. Mohamed Jemni, Director of the Department of Information and Communication (Tunisia); and H.E. Mr. Mourad Mahmoudi, Secretary of the Executive Council and the General Conference (Algeria), Mr. Muhammad Murtaza Noor, National Coordinator of the Inter-University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences Pakistan (IUCPSS), were also part of the delegation.
Secretary, National Heritage and Culture Division, Asad Rahman Gillani, was also present on the occasion.
During the meeting, both sides discussed potential areas of collaboration and agreed to explore joint initiatives in music, drama, visual arts and dance to promote cultural exchange and strengthen people-to-people ties.
The head of the delegation, Professor Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, introduced ALECSO and briefed the Minister on its mandate, programmes and initiatives. He highlighted that the organization comprises 22 member states and expressed its interest in expanding cultural engagement and cooperation with Pakistan.
He also outlined various cultural initiatives being undertaken by ALECSO in its member states and highlighted the commonalities between Pakistani and Arab cultures, emphasizing the potential for meaningful collaboration in the cultural sector.
“We are eager to collaborate with Pakistan in the cultural sector,” he said, expressing the organization's interest in developing mutually beneficial partnerships.
The Federal Minister welcomed the delegation and underscored the importance of strengthening institutional ties between Pakistan and ALECSO. He said that although it was the first meeting between the two sides, Pakistan was keen to establish a structured framework for cooperation, including the possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), similar to its collaboration with UNESCO, to support the preservation, promotion and protection of cultural heritage.
Aurangzeb Khan Khichi also invited the delegation to visit the Department of Archaeology and Museums (DOAM) to explore Pakistan's approximately 5,000-year-old Gandhara heritage. He highlighted the government's initiatives to preserve and promote this historic legacy and to showcase Pakistan's rich cultural heritage at the international level.
Secretary Asad Rahman Gillani briefed the delegation on the mandate of the National Heritage and Culture Division, its attached departments and the initiatives being undertaken to promote Pakistan's rich cultural heritage internationally. He also discussed potential areas of mutual interest and practical avenues for collaboration between the two sides.
The Secretary said that a draft MoU would be prepared and shared with the relevant authorities for consideration to advance the proposed cooperation. He also proposed sending a Pakistani cultural troupe to participate in ALECSO-organized events, providing an opportunity to showcase the country's diverse artistic traditions and cultural expressions.
The ALECSO delegation also proposed establishing a dedicated cultural corner at a Pakistani cultural institution to host an upcoming exhibition, further strengthening cultural interaction and providing a platform for showcasing artistic and cultural heritage.
Earlier, the delegation visited the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa), where its members appreciated Pakistan's efforts to preserve, document and promote its rich cultural heritage and traditional arts.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to explore practical avenues for cultural cooperation, promote artistic exchanges and strengthen institutional engagement between Pakistan and ALECSO.
