Rizwan Sheikh describes Lahore as a fountainhead of creativity and intellectual discourse
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh speaks at the Lahore Literary Festival at the Asia Society in New York. Photo: Express
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, underscored Lahore’s cultural and literary legacy at the Lahore Literary Festival held at the Asia Society in New York, highlighting the city’s contribution to Pakistan’s intellectual and artistic traditions.
The ambassador was accompanied by Aamer Ahmed Atozai, Pakistan’s consul general in the US metropolis.
In his inaugural remarks, Sheikh traced Lahore’s enduring contribution to Pakistan’s intellectual and artistic landscape, drawing on his longstanding personal association with the historic city.
He said nothing quite matched Lahore in its glory, vibrancy and cultural significance, highlighting the city’s continuing contributions to literature, drama, theatre, film and the performing arts.
Describing Lahore as a fountainhead of creativity and intellectual discourse, the ambassador also recalled the historic significance of the Lahore Resolution, adopted in 1940.
He described the resolution as a landmark work of political literature that eventually became a reality, laying the ideological foundation for the creation of Pakistan.
Drawing a parallel between Pakistan and the United States, Sheikh said Lahore held a place in Pakistan comparable to that of New York in America, embodying cultural dynamism, intellectual vitality and national identity.
The festival brought together writers, intellectuals and artists to celebrate arts and literature and promote cultural understanding between Pakistan and the international community.
