Culture can drive sustainable development, reduce poverty and build peaceful communities, the Lahore International Conference on Culture heard in July 2016. The event was organised by Youth Revolution Clan (YRC) with the Australian organisation Cultural Infusion.
The three-day conference ran from 27 to 29 July and was chaired by Peter Mousaferiadis, founder and chief executive of Cultural Infusion.
The United Religions Initiative (URI), which reported on the event, described it as the first of its kind in Pakistan and said it drew a large audience.
‘Humanity’s greatest asset’
In a series of speeches, Mr Mousaferiadis argued that culture underpins sustainability, can help lift people out of poverty and forms the basis of socially cohesive, peaceful communities.
He described culture as humanity’s greatest asset and stressed the importance of preserving endangered languages.
He was accompanied by Nivy Balachandran, Cultural Infusion’s interfaith officer and URI’s regional coordinator for South-East Asia and the Pacific.
Distinguished guests
Guests included Margaret Adamson, then Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, and Vibeke Jensen, then UNESCO’s director in Pakistan.
Seven themes
- The role of culture in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
- Multicultural cities and the challenges of urban governance
- Culture and nationalism, including accepting cultural diversity
- Religion and culture for interfaith harmony
- Cultural diplomacy for sustainable development
- Intangible cultural heritage
- Culture and media
What did the organisers hope to achieve?
The organisers set out to share experience and propose recommendations for culture-led development at international, national, regional and local level, and to present and discuss Pakistan’s draft cultural policy in the context of the 2030 Agenda.
They also aimed to strengthen Pakistan’s cultural identity abroad and to project a positive, peaceful image of the country.
Planned outcomes included a set of recommendations, called the Lahore Outcomes, on integrating culture into planning, the creative economy and quality of life, as well as input towards a youth exchange programme with partner countries.
Beyond the conference hall
During the visit, Mr Mousaferiadis appeared on I Speak Lahore, an hour-long panel programme on Star Asia News Network, and spoke at the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture.
URI reported that he planned to return to Pakistan that October to begin planning a 2017 conference, which went ahead in September 2017.
About YRC
At the time, URI described YRC as a Lahore-based organisation helping young people engage with their communities through capacity-building and efforts to improve community attitudes and behaviour, with 30,000 members.
At a glance
- Event: Lahore International Conference on Culture
- Dates: 27–29 July 2016
- Location: Lahore, Pakistan
- Organisers: Youth Revolution Clan with Cultural Infusion
- Chair: Peter Mousaferiadis, Cultural Infusion
Source: United Religions Initiative – Cultural Infusion at Lahore International Conference on Culture
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