The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has declared Lahore the ‘City of Literature’ making it the first city in the country to have received this title.
In a ceremony held at the Alhamra Art Center’s Burney Garden, government officials including Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan and UNESCO director spoke about the importance of Lahore as a center of learning and warmth. According to a report in Dawn News, Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar was also supposed to attend the event but could not make it due to prior commitments.
Speaking at the event, UNESCO Director Patricia Mcphillips said: “[Lahore] has a rich vibrant culture and is now in the network of cities recognised by Unesco for its literary status.”
On the other hand, Dr Awan, speaking at the event, said that it was a historic day for the people of Lahore as the city would now be globally known as the ‘City of Literature’. Dr Firdous said that “Lahore is the city of flowers, monuments, writers and Sufi saints”, adding that the government would take special measures to celebrate Lahore’s status by organising literary activities round the year.
“We have to revive Lahore’s culture related to literary sittings and poetic symposiums,” remarked Dr Firdous.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also signed between the Lahore Arts Council and UNESCO at the occasion.
Earlier in November 2019, UNESCO included Lahore in its list of cities that have been designated as Unesco Creative Cities. A total of 66 cities were selected for 2019’s list.
