Islamabad, August 6, 2026 – The Europe Today: Pakistan and Spain have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in culture, heritage preservation, archaeology, museums, literature, education, and cultural diplomacy during a meeting between Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi and Spanish Ambassador to Pakistan Carlos Aragon Gil de la Serna in Islamabad on Wednesday.
The meeting underscored the longstanding friendly relations between the two countries and explored avenues to expand institutional collaboration and cultural exchanges to further enhance bilateral ties.
Welcoming the Spanish ambassador, Minister Khichi said Pakistan highly values its historic and cultural relationship with Spain and is keen to broaden cooperation in heritage conservation, archaeological research, museum development, literary exchanges, cultural festivals, and academic partnerships. He emphasized that culture serves as a powerful bridge between nations, fostering mutual understanding, people-to-people connections, and global peace.
Recalling his visit to Barcelona, the minister described it as a memorable experience and praised Spain’s rich cultural heritage, hospitality, and remarkable architecture. He also acknowledged the significant contributions of the Pakistani community in Spain, noting that Pakistanis working in business, employment, and other sectors continue to strengthen bilateral relations. He also expressed appreciation for Spanish cuisine.
Referring to the Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural, Educational and Scientific Cooperation, signed between Pakistan and Spain in Madrid on April 25, 2007, the minister said the agreement provides a strong foundation for institutional collaboration, academic exchanges, mutual recognition of qualifications, information sharing, and the promotion of cultural activities.
Highlighting the enduring influence of Allama Muhammad Iqbal in Spain, Khichi noted that Iqbal’s poetry and philosophical works, including The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam and Masjid-e-Qurtuba, have been translated into Spanish. He proposed expanding cooperation between universities, libraries, and cultural institutions of both countries in the fields of Iqbal studies, literary exchanges, and translation projects.
The minister also showcased Pakistan’s rich archaeological heritage, particularly the Gandhara and Buddhist civilizations, inviting Spain to collaborate on joint archaeological surveys, heritage conservation and restoration projects, museum development, historical site preservation, and professional training for experts.
To further institutionalize cooperation, Khichi proposed negotiating a new Memorandum of Understanding between Pakistan’s National Heritage and Culture Division and Spain’s Ministry of Culture. The proposed agreement would cover joint archaeological research, conservation initiatives, museum exchanges, professional training, cultural festivals, fine arts exhibitions, literary translations, and educational cooperation.
Emphasizing the importance of cultural diplomacy, the minister stressed the need for regular exchanges of promotional materials, cultural exhibitions, archaeological displays, and academic delegations.
He also invited the Spanish ambassador to participate in the Ministry’s annual Lok Mela cultural festival, which attracted nearly four million visitors last year. The minister encouraged Spain to showcase its traditional cuisine, music, dance, handicrafts, and other cultural expressions at the event to strengthen people-to-people ties.
Introducing the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), Khichi invited the ambassador to visit its central art gallery in Islamabad to explore opportunities for collaboration in the visual arts sector.
Ambassador Carlos Aragon Gil de la Serna commended Pakistan’s rich cultural and historical heritage and expressed Spain’s strong interest in enhancing cooperation in culture, archaeology, heritage preservation, museums, education, and literary exchanges. He noted that he has many close Pakistani friends residing in Spain who continue to make valuable contributions to Spanish society.
The ambassador also highlighted Spain’s Islamic heritage, historic monuments, and calligraphy traditions, expressing a desire to expand cultural collaboration between the two countries. He noted that Spain is home to one of the world’s largest numbers of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, reflecting the country’s commitment to preserving and promoting cultural heritage.
He further revealed that Allama Iqbal’s philosophical works are currently being translated into Spanish, reflecting the deep intellectual and historical connections between Spain and the renowned poet-philosopher.
Recalling his visits to the museums of Peshawar and Taxila, the ambassador praised Pakistan’s Gandhara civilization and archaeological treasures. He also appreciated Lahore’s traditional kite-flying culture and lauded the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) for promoting international languages, noting the growing interest in learning Spanish in Pakistan.
During the meeting, Secretary National Heritage and Culture Division Asad Rehman Gilani informed the ambassador that Islamabad will soon host an International Writers’ Conference and invited Spanish authors to participate. He also invited the ambassador to visit the Gandhara Gallery at the Islamabad Museum, where recently repatriated rare historical artifacts are on display.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining regular engagement to translate cultural cooperation into concrete initiatives, strengthen institutional partnerships, and elevate the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and Spain.
