Quaid’s Mazar Welcomes 2M Visitors Annually

APP

Islamabad: Pakistan’s cultural landmarks remain major attractions, with Quaid-e-Azam’s Mazar in Karachi receiving close to two million visitors annually and Islamabad’s National Arts Gallery (NAG) drawing up to 500 visitors a day, the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Heritage and Culture was told on Thursday.

Chaired by MNA Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar at the Pak Secretariat, the committee meeting turned into a celebration of Pakistan’s rich cultural and historical appeal.

Officials shared how museums, heritage sites, folk festivals, and literary institutions are helping to keep history alive while also offering new attractions for domestic and international tourists.

A key highlight was the announcement of grand preparations to mark Allama Iqbal’s 150th birth anniversary in 2027, with plans for exhibitions, publications, and youth-focused activities.

The Iqbal Academy revealed it has already published 500 books in 27 languages and safeguarded 1,730 of the poet-philosopher’s original letters.

A comprehensive Iqbal curriculum—spanning from nursery to post-doctorate level—has been submitted to the Ministry of Federal Education for approval.

Meanwhile, Islamabad’s Lok Virsa Museum is gearing up for its much-anticipated ten-day Lok Mela from November 7 to 16, showcasing the folk traditions, music, and crafts of all provinces. The committee stressed the need for greater youth engagement to keep traditional culture vibrant.

Other institutions also shared their contributions: the Pakistan Academy of Letters highlighted its 22 annual literary awards, grants for writers, and the prestigious Kamal-e-Fann lifetime achievement award.

The committee called for transparency in funds disbursed to artists. Similarly, representatives from the Aiwan-e-Iqbal Complex, NAPA, the Department of Archaeology and Museums, the National Library, and the National Language Promotion Department underscored their role in promoting heritage and the Urdu language.

With heritage tourism on the rise, Pakistan’s cultural bodies are not only safeguarding history but also turning it into a vibrant attraction for citizens and international visitors alike. The upcoming Iqbal anniversary and annual folk festivals are expected to significantly boost cultural tourism, drawing even larger crowds in the years ahead.