Cultural Affairs
Welcome to the Cultural Section, Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Islamabad, Pakistan. We strife to obtain opportunities for education in the forms of fellowship, scholarship and training courses offered by friendly countries including Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Our other responsibilities:
- Provide facility to Afghan student, desirous to continue their studies in Pakistan
- Assist the Afghan Refugee Schools
- Participation in educational and academic Seminars
- Meeting with Afghan Students' Union for problem solving
Agreement on Cultural Cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Islamic republic of Afghanistan was signed in 11 articles on March 23, 2005 in Islamabad.
• International Conference and Seminar
The culture affairs of the Embassy is dealing with the process of the International Conferences and Seminars to be held in Pakistan in the level of scholars , scientists , professors and invited participants. The nomination of the candidates is preceded also by this section. In some conferences head of culture affairs as the representative of the Embassy will participate.
• Fellowship and Scholarship for Afghan Government Officials and Universities
Educational opportunities provided by friendly countries to the Afghan candidates from 2003 to2007, total 1686 (1,364 scholarships and 322 fellowships). The fellowships and scholarships are forwarded to the pertinent authorities of Afghanistan for nominating the relevant candidates. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Higher Education of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Administrative Independence Commissions in Kabul are selecting and screening nomination of the relevant candidates and introducing them to the Embassy in Islamabad.
• Afghan Refugee Schools
According to the Afghan Education Attaché Office in Peshawar there are 428 Afghan Refugee Schools in NWFP, Quetta, and Karachi, Islamabad and Rawelpendi and 144,909 students (97,749 Males and 47,160 Females)
Afghan Embassy constantly offers its support to the Afghan Refuge Schools specifically those Schools located in the area of Islamabad and Rawilpendi. A committee of School principles established and support by the Embassy to conduct the educational system among the schools. Currently the meeting is taken by the Education attaché and in-charge of the cultural affairs with the principles of the schools once a month either in the Embassy or in any applicable school for discussion on the method of education and following up the Ministry of Education Decree for formalizing the educational system in accordance with the system and curriculum of the Ministry of Education in Afghanistan.
H.E. Ambassaor, participating in Cultural Ceremony Graduation ceremony of 12 class students in
in Estiqlal Afghan Refugee High School Estiqlal High School Islamabad, 2007
• Training Course
More than 210 fellowships and training courses granted by the Government of Pakistan to the Afghan officials candidates in the fields of Diplomacy, Judicial training, Custom officers, police and Medical. These fellowships and training courses are conducted by the well known and experts Pakistani instructors and professors to provide valuable knowledge to the trainees for development of their capacities and enhance their experience. At present two courses are conducted for Afghan trainees. The Diplomacy course held in the Institute of Diplomacy of Foreign office of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan from 1st February 2008 to 1st May 2008. The Custom Course held in the National Institute of Banking and Finance Islamabad, started on 25 January 2008 till the end of March 2008.
Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs joined in Completion of judiciary course held for 17 Afghan
the Diplomatic Training Cousrse conducted by the prosecutors (3rd April to 27th May 2006)
Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, in Shariah Academy, International Islamic
Islamabad.2006 University-Islamabad.
• Afghan Students
Based on Information from Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, 1048 Afghan students are registered and pursuing their higher studies on self- finance scheme in Pakistani Universities and Institutions. There are some Afghan students ’ unions in the pertinent Pakistani Universities International Islamic University Islamabad, Faisal Abad University, Iqra University in Peshawar an etc. The Embassy at all times endeavourers to provide the required facilities for the Afghan Students for their encouragement in their fields. They have some times meeting with cultural Affair communicating their problems concerning their studies and the action is taken to bring the conclusion. Apart from that the cultural in-charge participates in students’ parties such as Cultural Week. Graduation Ceremony and Poem gathering the aide is also taken to the student by the Embassy.
Grand Annual Function-2007 of International Club, Afghan
Students in University of Agriculture,Faisalabad.
• NOC Letters
• Up to present totally 403 NOC letters have been issued for those students who are desirous to pursue their studies on their own expenses in Pakistan, for the academic year 2007-2008.
Note: The students to receive NOC letters from this Embassy should complete the following requirements:
• Petition , asking for NOC letter
• Having identity Card and filling the NOC form
• Having Educational Documents (High School Certificate or B.A Certificate) attested by the Ministries of Education, Higher Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
• UNESCO in Afghanistan
UNESCO’s strategy for the safeguarding of Afghanistan’s cultural heritage. is both tangible and intangible, including museums, monuments, archaeological sites, music, art, traditional crafts etc. holds an important position in order to strengthen the sense of national integrity. Cultural heritage can become a rallying point for former adversaries, enabling them to re-build ties and dialogue and re-design a common identity and future together.
UNESCO’s strategy is to help re-establish the links between the populations concerned and their cultural history, helping them to develop a sense of common ownership of monuments that represent the cultural identity of different segments of society. It is therefore directly linked to the nation-building process within the framework of the UN and international concerted efforts for rehabilitating Afghanistan. With reference to UN Secretary-General’s dictum “Our challenge is to help the Afghans help themselves," policies and activities for the safeguarding of Afghanistan’s cultural heritage focus on training and capacity building activities, related to the preservation of this cultural heritage. In addition, following the Government of Afghanistan’s request to UNESCO to coordinate all international efforts in the field of culture, the International Coordination Committee for the Safeguarding of Afghanistan’s Cultural Heritage was created under the auspices of UNESCO. The Committee’s advice will enable the Afghan authorities to develop a cultural policy framework for immediate and long-term heritage protection.