Pakistan envoy hails Lahore’s cultural and literary legacy in New York

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, attended the Lahore Literary Festival (LLF) at the Asia Society in New York.

He was accompanied by Aamer Ahmed Atozai, Consul General of Pakistan in New York, according to a press release.

The ambassador, in his inaugural remarks, traced Lahore’s rich cultural heritage, literary traditions and enduring contribution to Pakistan’s intellectual and artistic landscape.

Drawing on his long personal association with the historic city, Ambassador Sheikh observed that nothing quite matched Lahore in its glory, vibrancy and cultural significance.

Ambassador Rizwan Sheikh highlighted Lahore’s immense and continuing contribution to Pakistan’s literature, drama, theatre, film and performing arts, describing the city as a fountainhead of creativity and intellectual discourse.

He also recalled the historic significance of the Lahore Resolution, adopted in 1940, describing it as a legendary piece of political literature which transformed into reality, affording the ideological foundation for the eventual creation of Pakistan.

Drawing a parallel with the United States, Ambassador Sheikh remarked that Lahore in Pakistan was comparable to New York in America — a city that embodied cultural dynamism, intellectual vitality and national identity.

The festival brought together distinguished writers, intellectuals and artists, celebrating arts and literature and promoting cultural understanding between Pakistan and the international community.