Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: European Union and EU member states in Pakistan celebrated Europe Day with the 2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage with a ‘Euro village’ set up at Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) with an aim to promote the European culture and values.

Ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan Jean-François Cautain recalled that the reason the EU was organising the Euro village with participation from the member states was to remind everyone of the EU’s cultural richness while also underlining our unity. He affirmed that the European Union is and will continue to be a strong, cooperative and reliable partner to Pakistan. “We stand for multilateralism, for human rights, and for international cooperation. We work at home and abroad to promote sustainable development, inclusive societies, and the fight against inequality of any type,” he added.

The general public was provided with multiple displays of Europe as a culturally rich and friendly place. EU’s as well as the member states’ stands showcased their cultures and traditions, languages, food and music to Pakistan’s general public as well as information about the EU and the EU member states.

The premises of the PNCA was transformed into a genuine carnival with stalls with European typical food. There were information and activity booths for adults and children including quizzes, selfie walls and giant cut outs of famous landmarks in Europe. The evening ended with live performances of the European bands Lohninger & Fischbacher Duo, Wild ManGoes, Hun Solo and the Pakistani artist Zeb Bangash. A famous European illusionist Charlie Caper also enthralled the audience with his performance.

Published in Daily Times, May 7^th 2018.