ISLAMABAD, July 7 (APP): Ambassador of China to Pakistan Sun
Weidong here on Friday inaugurated “China Cultural Heritage Week” at
China Culture Center.
The exhibition was titled Inheritance and Innovation
Exhibition of Dalian Jinpu New Area Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Deputy Secretary National History and Literary Heritage
Division Nazir Ahmed, Chairman Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL)
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Qasim Bughio, Director General Pakistan National
Council of the Arts (PNCA) Syed Jamal Shah, Executive Director Lok
Virsa Dr. Fouzia Saeed, Cultural Counsellor of Embassy of China You
Yi and a large number of people from different walks of life
attended the inauguration ceremony.
Addressing the ceremony Deputy Secretary National History
Heritage Nazir Ahmed welcomed the Chinese exhibition, saying that
Intangible cultural heritage of Pakistan and China are recognized by
UNESCO.
He said, “We appreciate the efforts put in by Chinese Embassy
in consolidating, enhancing and upgrading Pak-China relations in the
fields of economy, trade, culture, literature and education.”
Chairman PAL Prof. Dr. Qasim Bughio expressed the hope that
this cultural heritage week would prove a milestone in bringing both
the cultures and men of letters closer.
He said that culture of every civilization is considered
significant as it defines the ways of living of human beings that
could not be ignored at any cost.
On the occasion chairman PAL presented Chinese short stories
book to the Ambassador of China.
Ambassador of China to Pakistan Sun Weidong welcomed the participants who came to attend the inauguration ceremony of Chinese Cultural
Heritage week.
He said that all these efforts would further strengthen people
to people contact of two friendly countries.
He said that Pakistan and China are two good neighbours,
friends and brothers, adding that China Pakistan friendship is
precious heritage. He vowed that this heritage would be preserved from
generation to generation.
He said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had turned into
reality and some projects were already completed under CPEC. He said
that more projects would be completed and it will bring more
benefits to both Pakistan and China.
The exhibition featured art forms like Jinzhou Modern Folk
Painting, Ceramic Handicrafts, Bird-Worm Seal Script and Dough
Modeling. People visiting the exhibition thoroughly enjoyed the
whole process of dough modeling.
“The exhibition very beautifully highlighted the cultural
heritage of China,” said Dr. Fauzia Saeed at the event.
The exhibition will continue for a whole week in China Culture
Center at Pakistan National Council of Arts.
Artists who exhibited their work informed that with a history
of 130 years, Jinzhou Folk Painting is now a comprehensive form of
traditional folk elements and art presentation.
Using simple brushwork and intense color, it tells stories of
romantic country life through modern art language and expresses the
dream for better life of the painters.
Around 27000 years ago, people began to use the shape of bird
and insect in the form of seal. 400 years ago, in Ming Dynasty, the
founder of Jinzhou Bird-Worm Seal Script began his research on this
special form of seal art.
While 150 years ago, a man called Ma Zhiyu became an
apprentice in a ceramic factory. That is the start of the history of
Jinzhou Ceramic handicraft.
After Years’ development, Dalian Jinzhou ceramic handicraft
research center was established in 2010 and five patents for
inventions, 150 design patents and many municipal and national
prizes have been achieved after that.
Burned in 1970s, Dalian Jinpu New Area Modern Folk Painting
was derived from the Chinese famous New Year Painting and Folk
engraving, together with other folk elements such as paper cut,
embroidery, folk painting, wall painting, glass painting etc.
Pakistan Truck art was also displayed at the Exhibition.
The prime minister said it was their promise and
commitment to remove darkness from the country, and “we have
fulfilled this commitment to a large extent.”
“We will Insha Allah completely eliminate loadshedding
from the country”, he said.
He said, “Our political opponents are not happy over it, as Pakistan
is growing and achieving the heights of development, darkness is ending, roads and motorways are being constructed.”
Nawaz Sharif referred to various already completed and
on-going four and six lanes highways and motorways projects
including Peshawar-Karachi, Gawadar-Khunjrab, Faisalabad-
Multan, Multan-Sukkur, Sukkur-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Karachi
etc. and said these were revolutionary projects.
Similarly, he said tourism sector was getting boost in
the country particularly in the hilly areas of Gilgit
Baltistan, KP and Azad Kashmir, which were flocked by
tourists, creating huge opportunities of income for local
populace.
He said with the GDP growth crossing 5% during the previous fiscal
year due to enhanced industrial and agricultural activities, the economy was improving and bringing in prosperity.
The purchasing power of masses over the last four years had increased,
he added.
The prime minister also mentioned the saving of huge Rs168 billion in
the installation of three power projects including Haveli Bahadur Shah, Bhikki and Ballo Ki and said this amount would be spent on other development projects.