The second day of the World Culture Festival 2025, organized by the Pakistan Arts Council Karachi, transformed the city into a vibrant canvas of art, culture and music, uniting creative minds from over 140 countries in a celebration of peace and diversity.
The day began with the inauguration of the art exhibition ‘Peace & Pieces — Volume 1’ at the Ahmed Pervez Art Gallery, inaugurated by Chief Secretary Sindh Asif Haider Shah.
Joined by Arts Council Chairman Mohammad Ahmed Shah and ambassadors from Nepal and Argentina, the event showcased paintings from Argentina, Bangladesh, Comoros and Sweden.
In his remarks, Asif Shah praised the universality of art, calling it a “language without borders”. He highlighted the growing international participation in this year’s festival and commended the Sindh government for its continued support for cultural exchanges.
Ambassadors Rita Dhital and Sebastián Sayús echoed similar sentiments, calling the Karachi festival “a bridge between nations.”
This was followed by a session on ‘Cultural Diplomacy between Pakistan and Nepal’, where diplomats highlighted the role of art in promoting dialogue and understanding between nations.
The film section, ‘Opening Shorts Diplomacy & Exchange’, featured works from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal, exploring themes of emotion, distance and resilience.
As the afternoon unfolded, the ‘Ballet Beyond Borders’ dance workshop encouraged participants with rhythmic performances and lessons in world dance traditions.
Later, the Kosovo theater troupe took the stage with ‘Te Turperuarit’, an Albanian play that explores shame, identity and social prejudice. The show won thunderous applause for its emotional depth and cultural relevance.
The vibrant day of the festival concluded with a ‘Mega Music Concert’ under the open skies of Karachi. Artists from Syria, Belgium, Nepal, France and Bangladesh shared the stage with Pakistanis Bilal Saeed, Akhtar Chanal and Akbar Khamiso Khan, creating a symphony of languages, rhythms and cultures that embodied the true spirit of the festival – unity through art.
