- Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan inaugurates Pakistan Pavilion, highlights UAE-Pakistan cultural ties and calls for greater literary cooperation and knowledge exchange.
Dubai: Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the United Arab Emirates, inaugurated the Pakistan Pavilion at the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to promoting literature, cultural diplomacy and intellectual exchange with the UAE.
Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the prestigious international literary event is being held at Expo Centre Sharjah and will continue until November 15, bringing together publishers, authors, intellectuals and literary institutions from around the world.
Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan highlighted the longstanding cultural and historical ties between Pakistan and the UAE. He commended Sharjah’s outstanding efforts to promote literature, strengthen the publishing industry and create international platforms for cultural dialogue, knowledge-sharing and intellectual engagement.
The ambassador also encouraged members of the Pakistani community in the UAE, particularly younger generations, to cultivate a strong reading culture and remain connected with literature, education and their cultural heritage.
Strengthening Pakistan-UAE Literary Cooperation
During his visit, Ambassador Khan held a meeting with Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chief Executive Officer of the Sharjah Book Authority. Their discussions focused on expanding literary and cultural cooperation between institutions in Pakistan and the UAE, exploring opportunities for greater engagement among publishers, writers and cultural organisations in both countries.
The meeting reflected the shared commitment of Pakistan and the UAE to strengthening people-to-people relations through literature, education and cultural exchange.
Preserving the Intellectual Heritage of Islamic Civilisation
As part of his visit, the ambassador also toured the stand of the Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi Foundation, where its Director, Sheikh Ayman Hamdi Al-Akbari, briefed him on the foundation’s initiatives to preserve Islamic scholarly heritage and make original historical manuscripts and classical texts more accessible to researchers and wider audiences.
Ambassador Khan appreciated the foundation’s efforts to highlight the intellectual contributions of prominent Islamic scholars, particularly Shah Waliullah Muhaddis Dehlvi, and to preserve the rich scholarly and philosophical legacy of Islamic civilisation.
His visit underscored the importance of promoting Islamic intellectual heritage, encouraging academic research and strengthening cultural connections among Muslim societies.
A Platform for Global Cultural Dialogue
Pakistan’s participation in the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair represents an important opportunity to showcase the country’s literary traditions, publishing industry and intellectual contributions on an international platform.
The inauguration of the Pakistan Pavilion further reflects the growing cultural partnership between Pakistan and the UAE, while highlighting Sharjah’s prominent role as a global centre for publishing, literature, education and intercultural dialogue.
BY: The Times Union
