Pakistan joined the 58th ASEAN Day celebrations in Islamabad with a vibrant showcase of its cultural heritage, organized in collaboration with the Niftysphere Institute of Arts and Design. Niftysphere students captivated the audience with music, dance, and traditional art, reflecting Pakistan’s rich cultural traditions. The artists from ASEAN states also enthralled audiences with their captivating cultural performances. The event highlighted the shared ASEAN–Pakistan values of cultural understanding, political cooperation, and economic partnership.
The ceremony was attended by ASEAN Heads of Mission, led by Wunna Han, Ambassador of Myanmar and Chairman of the ASEAN Committee in Islamabad. Federal Minister for the National Heritage and Culture Division Aurangzeb Khan Khichi was the chief guest.
In his address, Minister Khichi congratulated ASEAN Member States on their 58th anniversary, calling ASEAN “a remarkable example of regional transformation” and an inspiration for the developing world, days press note. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening ties as a constructive partner, noting its long-standing engagement as a Sectoral Dialogue Partner since 1993 under the “Vision East Asia” policy.
Praising ASEAN’s achievements, the minister lauded the successful implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and expressed Pakistan’s full support for Vision 2045. He stressed the importance of revitalizing the ASEAN Regional Forum to address emerging challenges, including cybersecurity, food security, climate change, and ethical AI governance.
He noted the ASEAN–Pakistan Cooperation Fund, established in 1999, as a vital platform for practical collaboration, with the 2024–2028 Cooperation Plan already implementing nearly 30% of its 31 initiatives. Referring to the record $10 billion bilateral trade with ASEAN in 2022, the minister called for measures to address the trade imbalance and enhance investment opportunities.
