Photos by Manzoor Alam Balakoti.
Karachi Pakistan : Oath-taking ceremony for the newly elected officials and governing body members of the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi was held at Auditorium . The event was graced by the presence of several distinguished guests, including the Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah; Sindh’s Minister of Culture, Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah; Commissioner Karachi, Syed Hassan Naqvi; Consul Generals from Turkey, Sri Lanka, and Iraq, as well as notable personalities from the fields of literature and the arts. 
The ceremony began with the recitation of the Quran and the national anthem. The newly elected officials and members of the governing body for the 2025-2026 take oath by the Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah.
The new elected officials include Muhammad Ahmed Shah (President), Munawar Saeed (Vice President), Professor Ejaz Ahmed Farooqi (Secretary), and Noorul Huda Shah (Joint Secretary). Members of the governing body who took the oath included Dr. Huma Mir, Dr. S.M. Qaisar Sajjad, Mohammad Iqbal Latif, Dr. Ambareen Haseeb Ambar, Ghazi Salahuddin, Syed Sajid Hassan, Mohammad Ayoub Sheikh, Akhlaq Ahmed Khan, Amjad Hussain Shah, Abdullah Sultan, Farrukh Tanveer Shahab, Dr. Amjad Saraj Memon, Dr. Jaffar Ahmed, Alya Iqbal Naqvi, Wasim Badami, Chand Gul Shah, and Ghouse Akbar.
Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah congratulated the newly elected body, emphasizing that the success of Muhammad Ahmed Shah and his team since 2008 has been remarkable. There were no elections held from previous two years and this time too, Ahmed Shah emerged victorious. The way Ahmed Shah has broken his own records every year is unprecedented, and that is why he was successful in this election as well.
It is a significant achievement that 450 artists from around the world was performed in Karachi for the World Culture Festival.”In a world where global concerns and apprehensions are on the rise, it is commendable to see the Arts Council carry out unique work on an international scale. Ahmed Shah has the capability to bring people from even Mars.
He mentioned that Quaid-e-Azam had gained Pakistan through politics and democracy. Institutions like the Arts Council should promote arts and artists so they can break free from the deadlock of the 1980s, which we have yet to overcome. The Sindh government has revitalized the Art School established in 1964 by the Arts Council. He emphasized that the Arts Council has done unparalleled work not just for Karachi but for the entire country.
The Sindh government and the Arts Council are working hand in hand. The participants of the summit will help improve the perception of Pakistan around the world and boost our morale. The journey of cultural and social revolution should continue with new dimensions and innovations.
President Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, Muhammad Ahmed Shah, expressed his gratitude to the Chief Minister, the Minister of Culture, and all the distinguished guests. He said that the success was not his alone but a collective victory, emphasizing the trust the public had placed in his team.
We have maintained democratic traditions and given the right to elect to the common public. He said, “We also want to go to Islamabad and conquer Kufa.” He acknowledged that all these successes have been made possible by the Sindh government, and especially the Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, who plays a pivotal role. Syed Murad Ali Shah is the backbone of this initiative. We are also holding festivals in Sukkur and Larkana.
He mentioned that there had been no elections for four years, and there were no prospects for elections this year either. To promote art and culture, we have signed MOUs with all universities in Sindh. This time, five new members with vast experience and a deep understanding of global issues have been included in the Arts Council’s governing body. This year, discussions will include governance, economics, and environmental issues.
Nobel Laureates will also visit the Arts Council, and artists from Italy, France, and Spain will be brought to the Council. He added that the World Culture Festival Summit will commence on November 6, and the World Culture Festival in November 2025 will be a global-scale event. 64 countries already agreed to perform in World Culture Festival, and in the next nine months, over 100 countries’ artists will perform at the Arts Council.
The World Culture Summit will address five major global issues: science, environment, violence, AI, and digital evolution, which has reached a standstill. He further noted that talent is emerging from Karachi, and work is beginning in Hyderabad and other cities of Sindh. Teachers’ salaries are also being provided, and ongoing events such as the Music Festival, Theatre Festival, and Youth Festival will continue.
