Areeja Syed, Sohail Ahmad, and Muhammad Makkey Bhutta published their article on July 29, 2020, in the Liberal Arts and Social Sciences International Journal (LASSIJ) Vol. 3, No. 2, (July-December), 2019, 85–95. The article was about Pakistan’s cultural diplomacy. The writers of this article examine the cultural diplomacy instruments that Pakistan might most effectively employ to foster improved perceptions on a global scale.
An essential element of international relations is culture. The best way to describe cultural diplomacy is as a set of activities based on exchanging opinions, morals, traditions, and other aspects of a culture. The public, business, and civil society sectors all use cultural diplomacy to promote the welfare of the state, strengthen relationships, or quicken socio-cultural cooperation. As a kind of public diplomacy, cultural diplomacy involves governments attempting to achieve their long-term objectives by presenting their cultures to audiences abroad. It seeks to win over the intended audience’s hearts and minds. States can cultivate a favorable perception in the eyes of the outside world by projecting a positive image of their culture and traditions.
Pakistan is a nation home to numerous ethnic groups who work and live there. It has a beautiful physical setting and a rich historical background. One might take advantage of these abilities and showcase Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage to promote the nation’s notable reputation. Pakistan has been going through a difficult period politically, economically, and socially, and the main cause of this has been the public’s unfavorable opinion of the country outside. Pakistan has started promoting its culture through food, sports, dramas, movies, and fruits. Pakistan’s Sufi culture may be yet another example of soft power in action. Currently, Pakistan is hosting the first-ever cultural festival of ideas to be held in the foreign office in New York. The intention was to highlight the various aspects of culture as well as the art and literature of Pakistan.
Pakistan is blessed with flora and fauna. In sports like squash, snooker, hockey, and cricket, Pakistan has excelled. The diaspora of Pakistanis is widely dispersed globally. Pakistan must therefore employ cultural diplomacy at this crucial juncture, or else its poor worldwide reputation will force Pakistan to pay the price. One of the most important tools in the modern world is cultural diplomacy, which Pakistan must employ to the fullest extent possible to achieve its goal of improving its standing abroad
The writer is a student of “BS International Relations” at “International Islamic University”.