A group photograph of heads of delegations participating in the OIC Cultural Festival at Baku Creative Week 2025 has been released, capturing a moment of cultural cooperation and renewed partnership across member states. The OIC Cultural Festival runs in Baku, Azerbaijan from 5 to 11 December and features diverse cultural, heritage and creative showcases from across the Islamic world.
Pakistan was represented with dignity by Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Muhammad Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, who used the platform to highlight Pakistan’s rich cultural identity, artistic excellence and creative potential while projecting a positive and progressive image internationally. The minister’s participation underscored Pakistan’s commitment to cultural diplomacy and creative exchanges within the OIC framework.
The released group photo symbolizes harmony and strengthened ties among OIC member states and reflects Pakistan’s active and prominent role in regional and global cultural engagements. Officials said the country is resolved to deepen collaborations in arts, heritage preservation and creative industry partnerships going forward.
The festival was officially inaugurated at the Baku Congress Center under the auspices of the Azerbaijan Ministry of Culture and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The opening ceremony was hosted by Azerbaijan’s Minister of Culture Adil Kerimli and attended by culture ministers from several OIC nations, including Egypt’s Ahmed Fouad Hanno, Libya’s Mebruke Tugi and Palestine’s Imaduddin Abdullah Selim Hamdan. Türkiye participated as the guest of honor, represented by Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Nadir Alpaslan, Yunus Emre Institute President Abdurrahman Aliy, Director General of Cinema Birol Guven and Türkiye’s Ambassador to Baku Birol Akgun.
Minister Kerimli noted that the OIC Cultural Festival serves as a platform for dialogue, partnership and idea exchange among creative industry professionals across the Islamic world. He highlighted that more than 300 international participants from nearly 50 countries, together with an expected audience of over 5,000 visitors, will help expand networks within the creative industries while offering audiences innovative and diverse cultural experiences.
Deputy Minister Alpaslan emphasized the shared responsibility of OIC member states to preserve and promote cultural heritage, stressing that Islamic traditions, languages and historical sites represent an invaluable legacy for all humanity. He reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to advancing joint cultural projects and enhancing the visibility of shared heritage in close cooperation with OIC institutions.
Observers in Islamabad said Pakistan’s visible role at the OIC Cultural Festival and Baku Creative Week 2025 boosts the country’s cultural profile abroad and opens practical avenues for creative partnerships, exchange programmes and cultural tourism initiatives that can benefit artists and institutions at home.
