Karachi is set to host the World Culture Festival from Oct 29 to Nov 22 at the Arts Council of Pakistan, with more than 500 Pakistanis and 1,000 artists from 150 countries taking part. Arts Council President Ahmed Shah said the festival is meant to bring people together at a time when the world is marked by conflict, while Sindh officials described it as a major step in projecting Pakistan’s soft image abroad.
A global stage for Karachi
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Ahmed Shah thanked the Sindh government and Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah for their full support. He said the festival reflects a rare level of international participation at a time when many countries remain divided by war and political tensions.
“I want to make a claim here: our festival brings together more countries compared to the UN where not many countries sit together, and often stage a walkout,” he said.
According to him, the lineup will include artists from Ukraine and Russia, as well as participation from the United States and Iran. He also said two theatre groups from Palestine will perform, while artists from Latin American countries will also appear at the event.
What the festival will feature
Ahmed Shah said 85% of the programmes will be ticket-free, though registration will still be required. The festival will bring together performers from a wide range of regions, making it one of the Arts Council’s largest international cultural gatherings so far.
The scale of the event was also highlighted by Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Asif Haider Shah, who recalled that when Ahmed Shah first approached him two years ago, security challenges made the idea uncertain. He said the province chose to move ahead after deciding to “gather courage and do it.”
Growth from 40 to 150 countries
“This is how it all started. And now beginning from 40 countries, we have crossed the 150 mark. It goes to show that art knows no boundaries,” he said.
That expansion has become one of the strongest markers of the festival’s growth, underscoring how the event has moved from an early, cautious effort to a much larger international platform in Karachi.
A message from Sindh Culture Minister
Sindh Culture Minister Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah said the festival has helped project Pakistan’s soft image to the rest of the world. For the city, the event is not only a cultural showcase but also a public message that Karachi can host artists from countries often separated by geopolitical tensions under one roof.
With performances running from Oct 29 to Nov 22, the World Culture Festival is expected to draw local audiences as well as international participants, reinforcing Karachi’s place as a cultural meeting point on the regional arts map.
