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LAHORE, Dec 22 (APP): Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bukhari has said that viewing Tajik culture is a source of great joy, describing Allama Iqbal’s poetry as a unifying bridge between Pakistan and Tajikistan that symbolizes their shared Persian literary and intellectual heritage.
Addressing the Pakistan-Tajikistan Cultural Festival at Hazuri Bagh, Lahore Fort, here on Monday, she said that Pakistan values its long-standing brotherly relations with Tajikistan, adding that cultural exchanges play a key role in promoting mutual understanding at the public level.
The event was attended by a 75-member Tajik delegation, including Tajik Ambassador Sharifzoda Yusuf Toir, Additional Secretary Punjab Ahmed Raza Sarwar, and other dignitaries.
Tajik artists and dancers performed traditional music, which Minister Azma Bukhari described as “outstanding,” praising the elegance of Tajik women and the charm of Tajik culture. She welcomed the delegation on behalf of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif and invited them to visit Lahore’s shopping centers to experience the city’s vibrancy and hospitality firsthand.
The Minister, responding to an invitation from the Tajik ambassador, pledged to visit Tajikistan, emphasizing that cultural diplomacy strengthens bilateral cooperation through music, literature, fine arts, and preservation of cultural heritage. She added that the festival not only fosters friendship between the peoples of the two countries but also serves as a milestone in preserving and promoting their shared heritage, reviving historical ties between South and Central Asia and sending a message of peace, love, and mutual cooperation. She said that such cultural exchanges are an excellent means to enhance public harmony and a practical demonstration of the strong friendship between Pakistan and Tajikistan. Referring to the historical Silk Route, she noted that it facilitated not only trade but also the exchange of ideas, languages, and traditions, forming a shared cultural legacy, which Tajikistan proudly preserves. She emphasized that culture transcends borders and that Persian poets are equally revered in both countries.
Tajik Ambassador Sharifzoda Yusuf Toir, in his address, called Lahore “Tajikistan’s second capital” and thanked the Government of Pakistan for organizing the festival.
The delegation also visited a handicrafts exhibition at Hazuri Bagh, showing great interest in the displays that reflected the shared culture, arts, and traditions of both countries, highlighting the strong historical and cultural ties between Pakistan and Tajikistan.
Earlier, the Tajik delegation visited Mazar-e-Iqbal, laid floral wreaths, and offered Fateha in tribute to Allama Iqbal, the “Poet of the East,” honoring his lasting legacy in Pakistan and Tajikistan.