A ceremony marking the launch of two significant literary works — Urdu-Uzbek Dictionary of Common Words and 20th Century Fictions — was held on Thursday at the National Language Promotion Authority in Islamabad in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The event was attended by a large number of academic, literary and cultural personalities, reflecting the deep-rooted ties between Pakistan and Uzbekistan.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Pakistan, Alisher Tukhtaev, said that Pakistan and Uzbekistan share centuries-old religious, civilizational and cultural relations. He noted that literary and cultural initiatives play an important role in strengthening mutual understanding, brotherhood and academic cooperation between the peoples of the two countries.Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Division, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, appreciated the efforts of the authors and said they had made valuable contributions towards promoting bilateral relations between Pakistan and Uzbekistan through literature and culture. He expressed hope that such scholarly and literary activities would continue in the future and suggested that the Urdu-Uzbek dictionary should also be made available online for the convenience of the general public.
Federal Secretary for National Heritage and Culture Division, Asad Rehman Gilani, described the event as a practical manifestation of the enduring friendship between the two countries. He said that Pakistan and Uzbekistan are connected not only through cultural ties but also through shared historical, scientific and civilizational foundations. He added that the regions have long been illuminated by the traditions of science, arts and culture, while the Urdu language itself reflects diversity by incorporating words from many world languages.Professor Mahiya Abdul Rahmanova expressed her happiness over the launch of the two books and praised the efforts behind the compilation of the dictionary. She remarked that compiling a dictionary is a highly demanding and painstaking task and congratulated Dr. Tash Mirza Khalmirzayev for his remarkable achievement.Speaking on behalf of her father, Adil Mirza highlighted the growing people-to-people contacts between Pakistan and Uzbekistan, mentioning the launch of direct flights from Lahore to Tashkent. She said the improved connectivity now allows travelers to reach historic Uzbek cities such as Samarkand and Bukhara within just two hours.The ambassadors of Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Turkiye, along with the First Secretary of Azerbaijan and Chairperson of the Pakistan Academy of Letters, Dr. Najeeba Arif, also attended the event.
Tourism Ambassador Hamid Mehboob conducted the ceremony while dressed in a traditional Uzbek gown featuring black fabric with golden embroidery, which attracted the attention of the participants.
