By Staff Report
The Pakistani community in the Netherlands will celebrate Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day with a series of cultural events in August aimed at promoting Pakistani heritage and strengthening intercultural ties within Dutch society.
The programmes, organised by the Intercultural Progressive Foundation (IPS), will take place on Aug 14 and 15 at Wijk- en Dienstencentrum Woej De Plint in Leidschendam-Voorburg, while a special cultural evening has been scheduled for Aug 24 at the Haagse Moslim-Vereniging “Noeroel Islam” in The Hague.
Founded in 1988, IPS has been working to promote cultural expression, social cohesion and intercultural dialogue in the Netherlands through a range of community initiatives and cultural activities, particularly in The Hague and surrounding areas.
A highlight of the celebrations will be a performance by the internationally acclaimed Riaz Ali Sabri Qawwali Band from Lahore, Pakistan. The programme will also feature speeches by Adeel Mehmood and K.R. Khan, a poetry recital by Dr Kamran, and a traditional folk dance performance by Daughter Pakistan.
According to the organisers, the events are open to the public free of charge and will provide visitors with an opportunity to experience Pakistani music, poetry, dance, cuisine and cultural traditions.
The celebrations are being organised under the leadership of Mohammad Saeed, chairman of the Intercultural Progressive Foundation, who has been living in the Netherlands since 1988 and has remained actively involved in promoting cultural exchange and community engagement.
The organisers said the Independence Day celebrations were intended to foster friendship, mutual understanding and cultural cooperation among diverse communities in the Netherlands.
Journalists, media organisations, social media content creators and members of the public have been invited to attend and cover the events.
