The 39-day ‘World Culture Festival 2025,’ organized under the auspices of the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, concluded, bringing an end to a massive international cultural convergence. The festival successfully hosted over 1,000 artists from 142 countries, utilizing art to deliver a global message of peace.
Chief Minister Sindh’s Major Announcement: Attending the closing ceremony, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah praised the immense success of the festival, stating it was an honor for Karachi to host such a large number of international artists. Shah made a bold declaration, saying, “Karachi used to be the capital of Pakistan; now it is the capital of culture.”
The Chief Minister noted that the festival’s theme centered on peace and environmental concerns. He specifically highlighted that artists used their medium to depict the ongoing genocide in Gaza, sending a potent message of peace to the world. Shah lauded Arts Council President Muhammad Ahmad Shah’s relentless energy, comparing him to a “Greek hero” for successfully orchestrating the extraordinary 39-day event. He also expressed regret that infrastructure development in Karachi has not kept pace with the city’s rapid population growth.
Art as a Voice for Peace: Arts Council President Muhammad Ahmad Shah thanked the Chief Minister, ministers, diplomats, and security forces for their support. He revealed that the festival had far exceeded expectations, growing from 44 participating countries last year to people from “all over the world” this year. He confirmed that 80% of the international artists participated at their own expense, demonstrating their commitment to the arts.
“The global community is aware of the atrocities against women, child exploitation, and genocide. We want peace; we are raising our voices through our art,” said Muhammad Ahmad Shah, asserting that “the artist does not want war.”
A Unified Cultural Climax: By a felicitous coincidence, the 39-day World Culture Festival concluded on the same day as Sindh Culture Day. The Chief Minister described the fusion of Sindh’s cultural vibrancy and the festival’s artistic achievements as truly memorable, reaffirming Sindh as a land of peace and tolerance.
In the final moments, Palestine’s Ambassador, Dr. Zuhair Muhammad Hamdallah Zaid, presented symbolic Palestinian scarves to the Chief Minister and the Arts Council President. In return, the Chief Minister presented the Palestinian Ambassador and all participating artists with the traditional Sindhi Ajrak and commemorative shields.
