French Ambassador signs partnership agreement with Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan

Islamabad, November 28, 2012 (PPI-OT): The French Ambassador to Pakistan, Mr. Philippe Thiébaud, signed, at his Residence, a partnership-agreement with the Chairman of Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan (AKCSP), Mr. Akbarali Pesnani on the 28th of November 2012 for a total budget of 175.000$. This event emphasizes the ambition of the French Government to reinforce its cooperation directly to the local communities in Pakistan.

The objective of this collaboration with the AKCSP aims at encouraging skill development of the young population and artistic expressions to promote diversity and sustainable development, which is one of the major components of the French cultural cooperation in Pakistan.

Two projects have been developed for the promotion of cultural diversity of the Northern part of Pakistan; in the regions of Gilgit Baltistan and Chitral which offer an exceptional range of natural and cultural resources.

The first project “Skill Development in Heritage-Based Planning and Construction” is intended to invigorate and strengthen the ability of the local population of Chitral to the traditional arts of embroidery, tapestry, cutting, sewing and upholstery. The ultimate goal of the process would develop and sustain both human and financial capital at the community level.

The second project, “Display of Performing Arts and Handicrafts”, will share and highlight the traditional aspects of these regions to a wider audience by bringing their potential for display, simultaneously at the Serena Hotel and the Alliance Française in Islamabad by the end of January 2013.

The Aga Khan Foundation and the French government already committed to implement a regional health programme in the cross-border re-gions of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan for the next 3 years.

For more information, contact:
French Embassy in Pakistan
French Embassy – Diplomatic Enclave G5 – GPO
Box 1068 Islamabad
Telephone: 00 92 51 201 14 14
Fax: 201 14 80 / 201 14 00
Website: www.ambafrance-pk.org