Diaspora celebrates culture at Lok Virsa

Lok Virsa Deputy Director Anwarul Haq said that the Lok Virsa aimed to preserve the cultural and historical value of Pakistan. PHOTO: lokvirsa.org.pk
A high-level delegation of overseas Pakistanis, currently participating in the Overseas Pakistanis Convention organised in collaboration with the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF), visited Lok Virsa on Sunday.
The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, made special arrangements to welcome the delegation. The guests were greeted with traditional drumbeats and vibrant regional folk music, creating a festive atmosphere.
Parliamentary Secretary for National Heritage and Culture, Farah Naz Akbar, officially welcomed the overseas delegates upon their arrival. Delegations from various parts of the world—including the United States, Europe, Gulf countries, and Africa—toured the Lok Virsa Museum, Handicraft Bazaar, Craft Village, and cultural stalls showcasing Pakistan's rich heritage.
The visitors also enjoyed live folk performances, featuring traditional melodies, instruments, and dances from different regions of the country. The performances were met with enthusiastic applause.
Delegates visited provincial pavilions that represented the unique cultural identities of all federal units, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Lok Virsa officials briefed the guests on the diversity and vibrancy of Pakistan's cultural landscape.
Speaking to the media, Farah Naz Akbar shared that approximately one thousand overseas Pakistanis are participating in this year's convention. She praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for facilitating this platform, calling it a positive initiative to strengthen connections with Pakistanis living abroad.
She added that the convention would help formulate a comprehensive strategy to address the concerns and challenges faced by the overseas community.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Express Tribune

14 hours ago

• Express Tribune

'E-vehicle policy to ensure greener Pakistan'

The government has stepped up policy-level efforts to promote electric vehicles in the country, as it offers a wide array of benefits across environmental, economic, public health and industrial development sectors. This was stated by Muhammad Saleem Shaikh, spokesperson for the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination on Sunday in the context of the federal government's New Electric Vehicle Policy (NEVP) launched on Friday. The policy aims to ensure a just and inclusive transition to cleaner mobility, reduce dependency on fossil fuels, stimulate local innovation and create new green jobs, he said. "The Government of Pakistan is stepping up efforts to promote the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) as a key part of the country's clean energy and climate resilience agenda. With the transport sector being a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and urban air pollution, the shift towards EVs marks a significant move towards a sustainable, healthier, and economically viable," the official remarked. He further said that the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC)) has already reaffirmed its commitment at various forums to promoting EVs in the country as a strategic priority in the country's transition toward a low-carbon, climate-resilient future as part of global efforts to cut heat-trapping and climate-altering vehicular carbon emissions and achieve environmental and urban sustainability. Saleem Shaikh said, "Recognising the transport sector as among the key contributors to air pollution and climate change-causing greenhouse gas emissions, the ministry would now actively support every possible effort for the implementation of the New Electric Vehicle Policy 2025-2030 to drive the country toward a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable mobility system. Director General of the ministry, Mohammad Asif Sahibzada, pointed out that the Ministry of Industries and Production, MoCC&EC and other key industrial and non-industrial stakeholders were working in close collaboration to implement the new policy. He further said that the policy would go a long way in bringing more and more e-vehicles onto the country's roads as it envisions 30 per cent of all new vehicles sold by 2030 to be electric - including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, buses, and cars. "This transition is not only vital for addressing adverse impacts of transport sector-related carbon emissions that contribute to climate change but also crucial for ensuring a clean, efficient and inclusive transport future for all Pakistanis," said Asif Sahibzada. Talking about the environmental and public health benefits, Sahibzada highlighted that EVs emit zero tailpipe pollutants, significantly reducing urban smog and climate-warming emissions. This shift supports the country's commitments under the Paris Agreement and its national climate change targets, he added. "Cleaner air means fewer respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses. With fewer emissions on the road, citizens — especially children and the elderly — will benefit from improved health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs," he remarked. He further said that electric vehicles undoubtedly offer long-term savings due to lower fuel and maintenance costs. They reduce Pakistan's dependency on imported fossil fuels, helping stabilise the economy and protect against global energy price shocks, he added. The ministry's Director for Urban Affairs and Urban Air Pollution Experts, Muhammad Azeem Khoso said that cleaner air means fewer respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses.

Business Recorder

3 days ago

• Business Recorder

PIA special flight repatriates 121 stranded Pakistanis from Iran via Baku

A second special repatriation flight operated by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) safely brought home 121 Pakistani nationals stranded in Iran, the national flag carrier said in a statement on Friday. Flight PK-7160 arrived in Lahore from Baku, Azerbaijan, at 3:40 PM, concluding a coordinated evacuation effort in response to the closure of Iranian airspace. 268 Pakistanis repatriated from Basra successfully: FO With direct air travel suspended, the stranded passengers had travelled overland from Iran to Baku, where arrangements were made for their return to Pakistan. The Pakistani embassies in Tehran and Baku played a pivotal role in facilitating the cross-border movement and coordination required for the repatriation process. Evacuation of Pakistanis in Iran, Iraq: Dar directs PIA to coordinate closely with MOFA The special flight was operated on the directives of the Government of Pakistan. PIA stated that, even in challenging circumstances, it remained committed to national service by prioritizing the safe return of citizens, a reflection of its longstanding tradition of operating in the national interest.

Business Recorder

3 days ago

• Business Recorder

Israel's attack on Iran violates international law: FO

ISLAMABAD: Expressing Pakistan's unambiguous stance, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson strongly condemned the Israel's attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities, calling them a sheer violation of international law. 'Pakistan strongly condemns unjustified and illegitimate aggression by Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Israeli military strikes violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran and clearly contravene the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law. Iran has the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.' Pakistan stands in resolute solidarity with the people of Iran and unequivocally denounces these blatant provocations, which constitute a grave danger and a serious threat to the peace, security, and stability of the entire region and beyond, with serious implications. Dar tells Senate: Pakistan, other OIC member states slam Israeli aggression against Iran FO Spokesperson Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan stated this while speaking at a weekly media briefing on Thursday. He; however, dismissed the reports of regime change in Iran, terming them speculative and rumors. To a query, he asserted that no requests have so for been made by Iran regarding security assistance or hosting refugees in case of prolonged conflict between Iran and Israel. 'Pakistan strongly advocates for diplomatic solutions and wishes Iran to engage constructively,' he remarked. On the IAEA resolution concerning Iran, Ambassador Khan said Pakistan abstained from voting. 'Pakistan firmly supports diplomacy to de-escalate the Iran-Israel conflict, which poses a serious threat to regional and global security.' Responding to questions regarding Field Marshal Asim Munir's meeting with US President Donald J Trump in the White House, Ambassador Shafqat chose to not go into the details saying, the ISPR statement covers all aspects and is self-explanatory. Reaffirming the robust ties between Pakistan and the United States, Field Marshal appreciated the role played by President Trump in defusing recent tensions with eastern neighbour and facilitating a ceasefire between Pakistan and India. The FO spokesperson highlighted that India has been involved in state-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan and globally. He stated that efforts are being made to evacuate Pakistanis from conflict zones are ongoing, with estimated 3,000 citizens have been successfully repatriated via Taftan, Baku, and Baghdad. With regard to recent conflict in May, the spokesperson asserted that Pakistan took measured actions in response to Indian provocations and aggressions, in line with international law. Islamabad continues to emphasise peaceful resolutions, particularly regarding the Kashmir dispute, he added. He announced that Pakistan is fully prepared to welcome and host Sikh pilgrims for Guru Arjun Dev Gee celebrations. However, the spokesperson added that no visa applications have been submitted to the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi for Guru Arjan Dev Gee's anniversary. Pakistan reiterates its commitment to peaceful conflict resolution and diplomacy, stressing that even a courteous acknowledgment from a leader like President Trump holds significance. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025