ISLAMABAD, Feb 26 (APP):The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Cultural Caravan seminar on “Art and Culture Enabling Creative Economy” was organized here Monday at Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA).
Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Sartaj Aziz was the chief guest on the occasion. Director General PNCA Syed Jamal Shah, Cultural Counselor Embassy of China You Yi, delegation of China, scholars, actors, singers and performers also attended the seminar.
In his remarks, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Sartaj Aziz said Pakistan’s contemporary creative economy was founded on a rich and diverse culture, creative and artistic heritage, visual arts and crafts and print media.
He said that the creative and culture products are cornerstone of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said adding that the project was not only for trade, economy and strategic cooperation between China and Pakistan but most importantly it’s an information, digital, social, communication and cultural corridor for boosting creative economy and cultural creative industries.
He said that the soft initiative help facilitate promoting the soft aspect of Pakistan and China and boosting people to people contacts between China and Pakistan to facilitate the implementation of economic activities like roads, railways, business, energy and special economic zones, adding “that’s why its befitting to benefit from the opportunities and potential of the creativity”.
He said that it was very commendable that Cultural Caravan was accompanied by this particular seminar to explore the creative economy to the benefit the society as whole, jobs and creative products not only create economic opportunities but also enable society to become more vibrant and become more interactive.
Director General PNCA Syed Jamal Shah in his remarks welcomed the participants of the seminar. He said that CPEC Cultural Caravan was a wonderful program conducted by artists China and Pakistan.
He thanked the artists, writers, photographer of Pakistan and China for making this initiative a successful. He said that PNCA would also announce Cultural Caravan for 2018-19, adding that the artists and writers from central Asia would also be invited to participate in the Caravan.
Embassy of China Cultural Counselor You Yi also spoke on the occasion and said that Pak-China cultural cooperation has a long history. He said that during Minister Information Marriyum Aurangzeb’s visit to China, an cultural exchange program was signed between Pakistan and China.
He said that a plan designed to carry number of cultural activities and to further boost people to people contacts between Pakistan and China.
Later, the renowned scholars including Dr. Salman Asif, Naveed Ahmed Khan, Yasmeen Lari, Tasawar Khanum and others presented their copies on the art and cultural enabling cultural economy.
The speakers said that art and culture are real face and introduction of any country and nation, adding that great nations always honor, value, preserve, promote and strengthen their art and culture.
They said that poets, scholars, writers, musicians, painters and artists are the real picture of any society.
Speakers further said that the cultural and creative industries are here to stay in Pakistan to improve the position of cultural and creative industries within the country.
This initiative would boost economic growth, diversify opportunities for employment and create greater creative and human capital. Most importantly, the cultural and creative industries would reaffirm Pakistan’s cultural identity as inclusive, vibrant and exciting.
