Pakistan, Iran sign five MoUs to deepen media, cultural cooperation

Pakistan, Iran sign five MoUs to deepen media, cultural cooperation
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah addresses media in Islamabad, Pakistan on October 10, 2024. (APP/File)
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Pakistan, Iran sign five MoUs to deepen media, cultural cooperation

Pakistan, Iran sign five MoUs to deepen media, cultural cooperation
  • Tarar calls digital media ‘the way forward,’ hoping the accords will enhance collaboration in the field
  • Iranian envoy says the MoUs will promote media cooperation and open avenues for public diplomacy

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran on Tuesday signed five agreements to strengthen cooperation in broadcasting, digital media and cultural exchange, according to a state media report, with officials describing the development as a step toward stronger ties through enhanced cultural understanding.

The Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), inked between Iran’s state broadcaster, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), and several Pakistani media institutions, aim to boost collaboration in content production, training and regulatory practices.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar termed the visit of the Iranian media delegation “productive and inspiring,” saying the signing of MoUs reflected both governments’ resolve to strengthen people-to-people connections and promote shared values of peace.

“Digital media is the way forward,” the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency quoted him as saying, as he highlighted that “the new agreements with Iran focus on enhancing collaboration in this vital domain, allowing both countries to learn from each other’s experiences.”

According to official summaries, the MoUs between IRIB and Pakistani institutions — including Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV), the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Box Office (Pvt) Ltd, Sab TV Network, and VSH TV — cover areas such as broadcasting, training, content production and cultural exchange.

Under the IRIB-PTV MoU, both broadcasters will exchange television programs and co-produce news and cultural content.

Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Reza Amiri Moghadam thanked the government for its support, saying the new framework would “bring the people of Pakistan and Iran closer through enhanced cultural understanding and media exchange.”

“These agreements will not only promote cooperation between our media organizations but also pave the way for broader public diplomacy,” the ambassador said.


Pakistan PM pledges protection of minority rights as Sikhs mark birth of religion's founder

Pakistan PM pledges protection of minority rights as Sikhs mark birth of religion's founder
Updated 05 November 2025

Pakistan PM pledges protection of minority rights as Sikhs mark birth of religion's founder

Pakistan PM pledges protection of minority rights as Sikhs mark birth of religion's founder
  • Sikhism is a monotheistic religion born in 15th century in Punjab, a region spanning parts of what is now India, Pakistan
  • PM Shehbaz Sharif says Baba Guru Nanak's message of unity, tolerance is a beacon of light to establish a peaceful world

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to protecting the rights of religious minorities as thousands of Sikh pilgrims from around the world gathered in Nankana Sahib to celebrate the 556th birth anniversary of Sikhism’s founder, Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

Pakistan is home to more than 15,000 Sikhs, while every year tens of thousands of Sikh pilgrims arrive in Pakistan to visit Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Baba Guru Nanak, Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, which is his final resting place, and other holy sites.

The Pakistan High Commission has issued more than 2,100 visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims to participate in the celebrations in the first major allowance after travel between India and Pakistan was frozen during their four-day conflict in May this year.

In his message on the day, Sharif said it is a matter of pride for Pakistan to protect Gurdwaras associated with the life and teachings of Baba Guru Nanak, who taught peace and equality for all humanity.

"The Government of Pakistan is unwaveringly committed to protecting the rights of all religious minorities," he said. "In line with this commitment, the government is providing all possible facilities to the pilgrims who come to all these religious places to pay their homage."

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion born in the 15th century in Punjab, a region spanning parts of what is now India and Pakistan. The frontier between the two countries was a colonial creation drawn at the violent end of British rule in 1947, which sliced the subcontinent into Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan.

While most Sikhs migrated to India during partition, some of their most revered places of worship ended up in Pakistan, including the shrines in Nankana Sahib and Kartarpur. For more than seven decades, the Sikh community had lobbied for easier access to its holiest temples in Pakistan, with Islamabad’s decision to open the Kartarpur Corridor in 2019 earning widespread international appreciation.

"Baba Guru Nanak’s eternal teachings, including love for humanity, selfless service and interfaith harmony, have been guiding generations," Sharif said in his message.

"His message of unity, togetherness and tolerance is a beacon of light to establish a peaceful and just world."