Karachi came alive on Friday as the Arts Council of Pakistan (ACP) launched the World Culture Festival 2025. Artists from 141 countries are participating in the 39-day festival, showcasing music, film, and performances. The event highlights themes of peace, climate awareness, and cultural exchange, aiming to bridge divides through creativity.
Opening night blended traditional and contemporary performances. Pakistani visual artist Amin Gulgee presented The Game, while the Balochi folk dance Leva drew loud applause. Performers from Bangladesh, Nepal, Belgium, Syria, and France also shared the stage, along with American dance groups Ballet Beyond Borders and Chrome Louie.
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Short films reflected global challenges, including climate change. Plastic from South Korea and Love Note to an Island from Kiribati emphasized the festival’s environmental focus. French santoor player Zakaria Haffar and Pakistani flutist Akbar Khamiso Khan also performed, highlighting the diversity of global artistic expression.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah inaugurated the festival, calling Karachi “unpredictable, vibrant, and alive.” He noted the event has grown from 44 participating countries last year to over 140 nations this year. Shah said the festival shows how culture can guide diplomacy, turning art into a tool for unity.
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The festival honored Sindh’s heritage with Sufi music and tributes to Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai. Diplomats from Australia, France, Japan, UAE, Türkiye, Sri Lanka, Russia, and Bangladesh attended. Organizers emphasized that art can foster empathy and peace, reminding the world that unity is possible through creativity.