Concert Programme “Uzbekistan–Pakistan: Melodies of Friendship and Brotherhood” Held in Islamabad

A concert programme entitled “Uzbekistan–Pakistan: Melodies of Friendship and Brotherhood” was held at the National Art Gallery of Pakistan in Islamabad as part of the “Days of Uzbekistan Tourism” being held in Islamabad on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the state independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The cultural evening was attended by Pakistan’s Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, as well as members of the Senate, National Assembly and Government of Pakistan, representatives of the Armed Forces, diplomatic corps, state and public organisations, academic institutions, expert and analytical circles, the business community, mass media, and Uzbek compatriots currently staying in Pakistan.

The event was opened with a welcoming address by Alisher Tukhtaev, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Pakistan. The Ambassador noted that, as a result of the strong political will and consistent efforts of the Leaders of the two countries, Uzbekistan–Pakistan relations have been elevated to the level of a strategic partnership, political dialogue has become stable and systematic, and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries continues to develop with renewed substance.

“Relations between Uzbekistan and Pakistan are based not only on political and economic interests, but also on our common history, great civilisational heritage, sacred sites, scholarly and educational traditions, and profound cultural affinity that connect our peoples,” the head of the diplomatic mission said. “The outcomes of the state visit of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Pakistan on 5–6 February this year, as well as the agreements reached in the field of culture during the visit, are contributing to bringing bilateral relations to a qualitatively new stage.”

Pakistan’s Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi noted that cultural relations between Uzbekistan and Pakistan have distinctive and unique characteristics, and that the peoples of the two countries are closely connected through centuries of shared history, culture, science and spiritual values.

“I am always pleased to visit Uzbekistan. In particular, my visit to your country in July this year left a very strong impression on me. I visited Tashkent and Samarkand. The Centre for Islamic Civilisation in Uzbekistan, established in Tashkent at the initiative and under the vision of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, as well as the Imam al-Bukhari Complex, dedicated to the great scholar and hadith expert Imam al-Bukhari and restored near Samarkand, made a profound impression on me. Today, we are delighted to welcome representatives of Uzbek culture to Pakistan. Cultural and humanitarian cooperation is one of the important areas of Uzbekistan–Pakistan relations. We should make reciprocal creative exchanges between Uzbek and Pakistani artists a lasting tradition,” he said.

Ayub Jamali, Director of the National Art Gallery of Pakistan, sincerely congratulated the people of Uzbekistan on the 35th anniversary of the country’s state independence. He emphasised that the organisation in Islamabad of the concert programme “Uzbekistan–Pakistan: Melodies of Friendship and Brotherhood”, featuring Uzbek masters of the arts, was a practical manifestation of the steadily expanding cultural and humanitarian cooperation between the two countries.

The concert programme presented by the Ashula and Dance Ensemble of the Ministry of Defence of Uzbekistan, which was invited from Uzbekistan, featured Uzbek traditional, contemporary and patriotic songs, music and dances.

The songs and dances performed by Uzbek artists were warmly received and enthusiastically applauded by Pakistani art lovers. The cultural evening created a special atmosphere for all participants and demonstrated the shared cultural traditions of the two countries.