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    Stolen Paradise: An Exhibition at PNCA

    Written by: Mahnoor Fatima
    Posted on: September 06, 2019 | | 中文

    Interactive Mural

    The Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) hosted an art exhibition on Thursday called “Stolen Paradise”. The Chief Guest for the occasion was the First Lady, Mrs. Samina Alvi. “Stolen Paradise” aimed to bring together members of the artistic community to reflect and stand with the Kashmiris suffering at the hands of the ruthless Indian government and its army.

    Director General of PNCA, Mr. Jamal Shah as well as the First Lady Mrs. Alvi, emphasized the need for artists to be seen as equally important to freedom struggles. They should be able to reflect the times, and do their part in raising awareness of important social and political issues. Mrs. Alvi believed that the freedom fighters of Kashmir have inspired Pakistani writers, poets and artists to create work to express solidarity with the Kashmiris.

    Photograph of a girl protesting rape in Kashmir

    The paintings belonged to notable Pakistani artists like Ghulam Rasul, Amna Ismail Pataudi, Salima Hashmi and more. They focused on the horrors witnessed by the Kashmiri people under Indian occupation, with the color red being a notable feature of each painting.

    Each painting was carefully surrounded by photographs of the hardships and cruelty faced by Kashmiri civilians at the hands of the Indian Army. The photos depicted protests against rape, victims of pellet guns, civilians mourning their loved ones among other things. The audience was deeply moved by the images of Kashmiris who have continuously stood up against the aggression and have lost their loved ones in the process.

    Paintings surrounded by pictures

    While the paintings and photographs were older pieces, Mr. Shah explained that displaying them was necessary to remind the audience of the relentless tyranny that had been forced upon the Kashmiris by the Modi government long before the events of August.

    Perhaps the biggest and most notable exhibit was the mural of pellet victims, which PNCA had put up as an interactive mural. The attendees were asked to paint messages for the people of Kashmir. While some wrote slogans of freedom, others drew beautiful images to pay tribute to Kashmiri brothers and sisters. Notable poet Iftikhar Arif recited a poem that he had written for the Kashmiris, and the audience burst into applause.

    Dancers at PNCA performed a moving mime about the suffering and the resilience of the Kashmiri people. Mrs. Alvi expressed Pakistan’s full support in Kashmir’s efforts for self-determination, and was optimistic that Kashmir would achieve their goals in the future.

    The mime performance

    Mr. Shah, who officially signed off as DG after this event, ended his speech by announcing a donation of two paintings by Ahmed Bashir to PNCA. We at Youlin thank Mr. Jamal Shah for his contributions at PNCA, and for using art to express solidarity with our brothers and sisters suffering in Indian Occupied Kashmir.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021









    Video message by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed on Black Day of Indian Occupation of Kashmir



    Video message by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed on Black Day of Indian Occupation of Kashmir, 27 October 1947, when Indian military troops forcibly occupied Kashmir illegally, claiming a fraudulent ‘Instrument of Accession’ which never existed as documented by eminent British historian Alastair Lamb! Kashmir & Palestine are examples of illegal occupation & continued Resistance to Repression! There are so many commonalities in Kashmir & Palestine: both under brutal military occupation of foreign powers, both are facing an indigenous, popular, spontaneous & widespread Resistance & Uprising, both are in violation of UN Resolutions which haven’t been implemented, both are witnessing an attempted change in the demographic balance, both are facing the use of rape as a weapon of war, both are testimony to double-standards & hypocrisy of Western powers on human rights & fundamental rights, and both conflicts have an element of racism and Islamophobia, while enduring peace, security and stability will remain elusive in both regions, South Asia & Middle East, until these issues are resolved in accordance with popular aspirations.