Terming the Urdu language a “national asset,” Ambassador Sheikh urged Pakistani community members to promote and make future generations aware of Urdu literature and Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage
Amb Sheikh Promotes Urdu Language and Pakistan’s Rich Cultural History
By Elaine Pasquini
Washington: Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, was the guest of honor at a special event honoring Urdu poet Asadullah Khan Ghalib on February 24, 2025. Held at the Chinn Park Library in Woodbridge, Virginia, the gathering was hosted by Bazm-e-Harf-o-Sukhan, a diverse group of Urdu poetry-lovers, a subsidiary of Muslim Response USA.
Terming the Urdu language a “national asset,” Ambassador Sheikh urged Pakistani community members to promote and make future generations aware of Urdu literature and Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage.
Emphasizing the skills and intellectual depth of the iconic poet of the Indian subcontinent – Ghalib is recognized as one of the greatest poets in the Urdu language – the ambassador stressed the responsibility to preserve this heritage, promote it, and pass it on to future generations. Raising global awareness of Pakistan’s cultural heritage is a key aspect of public diplomacy.
In addition, the ambassador invited the Pakistani community to utilize the embassy’s resources for events related to Pakistani literature, art, and culture. Last year, he noted, the embassy hosted the first exhibition of its new “Pakistan Arts, Crafts, and Literature Series” featuring works by acclaimed modern Islamic calligrapher Ayesha Kamal. All events at the embassy would be documented and published as Embassy Papers ensuring that such activities become a part of historical records, he said.
Recent technological advancements should be leveraged to protect and promote the Urdu language and cultural heritage, the ambassador said, noting that Pakistan’s national language is an integral part of Pakistani identity, and its promotion and development are necessary to strengthen Pakistani nationalism.
The gathering attracted prominent literary figures, community leaders, media representatives, and individuals from various walks of life in the Washington, DC area. Dr Abdullah Khalid Hameed, Naghma Sabohi, Faiz Rehman, Rahila Firdous, Babar Sarwar, Rashid Ansari and Ali Shoaib Hassan also addressed the audience, highlighting various aspects of Asadullah Khan Ghalib’s poetry.
In conclusion, Ambassador Sheikh congratulated Dr Arif Mahmood and other officials of Bazm-e-Harf-o-Sukhan for their dedication, efforts, and the successful organization of this important cultural event. The ambassador also honored other individuals for their social and professional contributions to the Pakistani community.
(Elaine Pasquini is a freelance journalist. Her reports appear in the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs and Nuze.Ink.)
