The Standing Committee on National Heritage and Culture Division met in Islamabad on November 20, 2025, under the chairpersonship of Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, MNA. The session began with a recitation from the Holy Quran and proceeded to approve the minutes of the previous meeting before taking up a detailed compliance report on outstanding recommendations.
On the committee’s recommendation to interview members of Allama Iqbal’s family and preserve those conversations in a book, the Secretary of the National Heritage and Culture Division informed members that Iqbal Academy Pakistan has already recorded interviews with Allama Iqbal’s son and daughter. The Academy is compiling and editing these recordings for publication, and the committee urged that the Iqbal archive be published before Allama Iqbal’s 150th birthday, with the material also shared widely on social media to engage younger audiences.
Members recommended that events marking Allama Iqbal’s 150th birthday be organized throughout the year at schools, colleges and universities to deepen youth engagement with Iqbal’s life and ideas. The committee stressed that making the Iqbal archive accessible in print and online will support educational outreach across provinces.
The Secretary also reported that the Terms of Reference and composition for the Coordination Committee on Interfaith Harmony and Cultural Enhancement, including federal and provincial representation as previously recommended, have been prepared and submitted to the National Assembly Secretariat. The Standing Committee decided these documents should be forwarded to the Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly for approval and necessary action.
The Director General of the Pakistan National Council of the Arts delivered a comprehensive briefing on PNCA activities, covering course offerings, duration and enrollment, national day commemorations, VVIP visits and exhibitions and workshops aimed at youth. The committee advised PNCA to more effectively project and publicize cultural events, particularly those held overseas, to raise Pakistan’s cultural profile.
Committee members agreed to hold the next meeting in Karachi and confirmed the attendance of MNAs Ms. Natasha Daultana, Ms. Samar Haroon Bilour, Ms. Saeeda Jamshid, Ms. Shaista Khan, Ms. Mahtab Akbar Rashdi, Ms. Saba Talpur, Ms. Naeema Kishwer Khan and Mr. Sanjay Perwani. The Secretary and senior officers from the National Heritage and Culture Division were also present to support follow-up actions.
