A summer course in Persian language, calligraphy, and painting was opened in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province in eastern Pakistan on Saturday.
The opening ceremony of the courses in Persian language, calligraphy was held with the presence of Mohammad Reza Nazeri, Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Lahore, Jafar Ronas, Director of Iranian Culture Center, a group of officials and university professors in Lahore interested in Iranian culture and art.
Congratulating the Muslim population of Pakistan on Eid al-Ghadir, Ronas said that the great event of Ghadir was the completion of religion and the end of blessings on the world and the Islamic world.
He added that the main mission of Khana-e-Farhang is to promote the Persian language and literature as well as the spread of Iranian art among Islamic countries and regions including Pakistan as a country with many commonalities.
Jafar Ronas expressed the necessity of acquainting the young generation of Pakistan with the treasures of rich Iranian art.
He pointed out Persian language and training workshops will be held free of charge for the public besides painting and calligraphy training workshops for the general public at the House of Culture.
Iran’s cultural attaché in Lahore highlighted that they also plan to hold educational courses in cooperation with the universities.
Mohammad Reza Nazeri, Consul General of Iran in Lahore, also expressed the importance of celebrating Eid al-Ghadir. He noted that the key to achieving the treasure of rich Iranian culture is learning Persian and he hopes Persian students and those interested in Iranian culture can learn the sweet language and thereby strengthen the cultural ties between the two countries.
In this ceremony, the voice message of the head of the Saadi Foundation and the Academy of Persian Language and Literature Gholam Ali Haddad Adel was also played.
In the message, he congratulated and appreciated the Persian students, professors, and the House of Culture of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Lahore in the development of the Persian language.
Expressing the close relationship between Urdu and Persian, Haddad Adel said that "if the people of Pakistan want to master Urdu, they must also learn Persian."
Appreciating the efforts of Persian language professors in Lahore universities to promote and teach Persian language and literature, especially among the youth, he noted that the Academy of Persian Language and Literature and the Saadi Foundation are ready for any cooperation and assistance to promote and teach language.
Head of Persian Language and Literature Department of Lahore Women's University Faliha Zahra Kazmi pointed out the challenges faced by Persian language and literature in Pakistan, adding that although important measures have been taken to promote the Persian language throughout Pakistan, the scope of these efforts must be expanded.
In the end, Persian students performed various programs about the importance of Ghadir, including a beautiful group performance about the historical event of Ghadir Khum and the character of Imam Ali (AS).
On the sidelines of the ceremony, a collection of art, educational and cultural books of Iran was also displayed.
The people of Pakistan, as lovers of the Persian language, always speak of Hafez, Saadi, Iqbal Lahori, and other great Persian speakers in various circles; factors that are the axis of bond and love between two neighboring nations.
Pakistani officials from higher education institutions, academics, and thinkers, have always stressed the need to promote Persian language culture and literature to further deepen relations between the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan.
In fact, promoting Persian language education in Pakistan, a country that has much in common with the Islamic Republic of Iran, especially in the field of culture, history, religion, and society, is an effective step in understanding the common culture and civilization of the two countries and efforts should be made in this regards.
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