Karachi: On the 34th day of the World Culture Festival 2025, a diverse lineup of cultural activities took place, including a showcase of FLAVORS OF UAE – a Culinary & Cultural Journey, two theatre plays, music and theatre workshops, film screenings and discussions, the inauguration of International Art Exhibition Volume 6, and the musical performance Sufi Dub Brothers. The day began with a theatre workshop by Turkish director and artist Ozlem, attended by students of the Arts Council Theatre Academy as well as children from Indus University. Ozlem introduced participants to various aspects of acting through body movements, stating that connection is essential in performance and that theatre allows spontaneous expression on stage.
The second workshop, titled “Spirit Sister”, was conducted by South African theatre artist Thembi Mtshali Jones, who shared that young performers work in her group and that singing is a community practice through which cultures are shared.
At the inauguration of the International Art Exhibition Volume 6, PPP Women’s Wing President Faryal Talpur said that organizing such a grand festival is highly commendable for the youth. She congratulated Ahmed Shah and his team, adding that Pakistan needs artists who can represent the country globally. She thanked the international artists for embracing Karachi’s hospitality.
President Arts Council Mohammad Ahmed Shah expressed gratitude for Faryal Talpur’s presence, noting that she actively promotes art and culture. He added that this festival combines five major streams of art under one platform. Faryal Talpur presented shields and bouquets to the international artists, while Women Empowerment Committee Chairperson Chand Gul Shah presented her with a traditional Sindhi Ajrak. During FLAVORS OF UAE – a Culinary & Cultural Journey, UAE culture was showcased through traditional food stalls offering dishes such as Arabic kahwa, date tea, balaleet, lugaimat, and more. The aroma of bukhoor filled the venue, and a traditional dance was performed using the iconic Emirati stick (asa), with participants from both Pakistan and the UAE adding energy to the celebration.
UAE Consul General Dr Bukheet Ateeq Al-Remeithi said that while people are celebrating in the UAE, the same festive spirit could be felt at the World Culture Festival in Karachi. He noted the long-standing ties between Pakistan and the UAE and praised the Arts Council for creating such an impressive cultural environment in the city. During the film screening session, three films were shown. The documentary “Return to Nature” highlighted the devastation caused by floods and explored how Pakistan can learn from U.S. climate policies. Spanish director Néstor López presented two films: X Polígono and Semillas de Kivu. In the post-screening discussion, directors Waqas Alam Angaria and Néstor López shared their insights. López said that his documentary focusing on women’s voices was close to his heart and that he was pleasantly surprised to see such a large festival in Pakistan. Angaria expressed his joy at seeing his documentary showcased, adding that challenges were significant due to the lack of data and research in Pakistan following the floods.Two theatre plays were performed: Pakistan’s “Dream of Ithaca”, directed by Sunil Shankar and written by Fawad Khan, and Russia’s “Settimana” by Lidia Kopina’s troupe, written and directed by Tatiana Khabarova. Settimana is an ancient-style dance-theatre performance woven around seven symbolic stories, reflecting journeys through worlds such as “Breath, Love, and War.” Both plays received strong appreciation from the audience. The festival day concluded with a powerful performance by Sufi Dub Brothers, where renowned German musicians Ashraf Sharif Khan and Victor Marek electrified the crowd with energetic sitar-driven fusion music. A large audience enjoyed the performance and applauded enthusiastically
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