Uzbekistan delivered a vibrant cultural presentation at the annual “Charity Bazaar” festival held on 23 November in Islamabad, an event organized by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote cultural exchange, humanitarian cooperation, and tourism.
The Uzbekistan pavilion emerged as one of the most popular attractions at the festival, offering visitors a taste of the nation’s heritage through traditional dishes such as plov, manti, samsa, and lagman, as well as classic Uzbek sweets including halva and chak-chak. The display also featured handicrafts, traditional costumes, musical instruments, and live performances.
Folk dances such as the Andijan Polka and Lazgi drew enthusiastic applause, with many attendees capturing the performances on video and even joining the dancers. More than 15,000 visitors attended the event, including ambassadors, diplomatic staff, international organizations, media representatives, and Islamabad residents.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Ishaq Dar, visited the Uzbekistan pavilion and praised the strong historical and cultural ties between the two countries. He commended Uzbekistan’s embassy for its exceptional contribution to the festival, noting the importance of such events in fostering cross-cultural understanding.
Ambassadors from numerous countries—including Turkey, China, Malaysia, Tunisia, Azerbaijan, Vietnam, Turkmenistan, Czechia, Indonesia, Palestine, Syria, Japan, the Philippines, Morocco, Yemen, and the UAE—also visited the pavilion and lauded Uzbekistan’s craftsmanship, culinary traditions, and cultural richness.
During the “Parade of Nations,” children of the embassy staff performed the Andijan Polka, earning warm applause from the audience.
Uzbekistan’s participation in the “Charity Bazaar” marked a significant step in strengthening cultural diplomacy in Pakistan and promoting the country’s historical heritage and tourism potential.
