Diplomats to attend ‘Lahore Lahore hai’ festival

ISLAMABAD: Diplomatic community is quite excited about Punjab capital’s festival ‘Lahore Lahore Hai’ that is commencing next week.

At least 60 ambassadors/ high commissioners and senior diplomats will be in Lahore before Saturday to witness and participate in the festival.

Dean of Diplomatic Corps Atadjan Movlamov, who is also envoy of Turkmenistan, is facilitating the diplomats intending to leave for Lahore.

He will be in Lahore tomorrow (Thursday) while Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner Mohan Wijewickrama, Nepal’s Ambassador Tapas Adhikari and Bangladesh HC Muhammad Ruhul Alam Siddique will move the following day.

Siddique told The News that he is very keen to be in Lahore since it has rich culture like Dhaka. He said that he hadn’t met the caretaker Punjab chief minister, who has impressed him through his hard work and simplicity.

Several envoys have met him in recent months. He said that he had earlier meeting with Governor Balighur Rehman and found him a decent person.

It would be for the first occasion in Lahore that senior diplomats would be attending in such a large number in a festival in Lahore.

The law-enforcement agencies have been alerted to provide security to the diplomats and their movement while staying in Lahore, the sources said.

The authorities are of the view that the festival will highlight diverse local cultures from across the province.

Lahore, known as the hub of cultural and commercial vitality in Punjab, will unveil the rich tapestry of Punjab’s culture and its importance in tourism through this fair.

The inclusion of a shopping festival within the cultural fair will stimulate economic activities in the province, while provisions for religious tourism at sacred sites will engage those interested in spiritual exploration.

Musical evenings will grace the fair, accompanied by exhibitions showcasing performing and fine arts at Lahore’s historic sites.