The Embassy of Pakistan in Madrid, in collaboration with the City Government of Malaga, in the southern province of Andalusia, organized a photographic and cultural exhibition “Pakistan: Culture to discover ” at the Ámbito Cultural Centre of El Corte Inglés, Malaga. The exhibition was jointly inaugurated by the Ambassador of Pakistan to Spain, H.E. Mr. Zahoor Ahmed, and the Mayor of Malaga, Mr. Francisco de la Torre Prados.
On the occasion, the Ambassador presented the Mayor with a framed picture of Muhammad Asad, the Pakistani-Austrian scholar, writer and diplomat, who spent his final years in Mijas and is remembered as Pakistan’s first diplomat.
Renowned Pakistani-Spanish musician Saeed Khan who lives in Malaga captivated the audience with a live performance on the sitar and flute, presenting traditional melodies that beautifully reflected Pakistan’s rich musical heritage. The performance received an enthusiastic response from the audience.
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Zahoor Ahmed stated that cultural diplomacy serves as one of the most effective means of bringing nations closer together. He observed that while Pakistan is increasingly recognised internationally for its economic opportunities and strategic importance, many people are still unfamiliar with its extraordinary natural beauty, rich civilizational heritage and cultural diversity. He noted that the exhibition seeks to bridge this gap by presenting Pakistan through the universal language of art and culture.
Speaking on the occasion, Mayor Francisco de la Torre Prados thanked the Embassy of Pakistan for bringing the exhibition to Malaga and welcomed the initiative as an important contribution to the city’s international cultural calendar. He observed that Malaga has evolved into one of Europe’s leading cultural and tourism destinations, welcoming millions of international visitors annually. He expressed confidence that the exhibition would enable not only the people of Malaga but also international visitors to gain a deeper appreciation of Pakistan’s history, culture and tourism potential, thereby strengthening mutual understanding between the two countries.
The inaugural event was attended by representatives of the Malaga Chamber of Commerce, Malaga University, diplomatic corps, business leaders, academia, media and a large number of citizens.
The exhibition, open to the public from 9 July to 14 August 2026, at the Ámbito Cultural Centre of El Corte Inglés, located in the heart of Malaga offers a vibrant visual journey through Pakistan’s diverse cultural traditions, natural landscapes, historical sites and everyday life. Featuring a curated collection of photographs, the event highlights the country’s rich heritage, artistic expression, and scenic beauty, aiming to deepen cultural understanding and promote people-to-people ties between Pakistan and Spain.
The exhibition follows a series of productive engagements held with the Malaga Chamber of Commerce, for strengthening economic cooperation and identifying new business opportunities between Pakistan and the Andalusia region. Interest was expressed by Spanish companies in sectors including textiles, agri-food products, engineering, tourism and investment, demonstrating the complementary nature of bilateral economic relations.
As part of the cultural programme, the Embassy has also arranged the weekly screening of selected Pakistani films, subtitled in Spanish, throughout the duration of the exhibition, offering visitors a broader understanding of Pakistan’s contemporary society, arts and cinema. The film screenings included feature films like the inspirational award winning NAYAB by Umair Nasir Ali and KANNAGAR by young filmmaker-civil servant Talha Mahmood and documentaries “the Flying Hands” about a mothers journey to introduce education for hearing impaired children in Hunza and After the storm about the resilience of Pakistani nation after the devastating floods.
The initiative is part of the Embassy’s ongoing photographic exhibitions across Spain aimed at promoting cultural diplomacy and fostering greater engagement with local communities in Spain. Similar exhibitions have been held with local governments of Madrid, Granada, Bilbao, Santander, and Cádiz over the past two years, which have generated considerable interest among Spanish travellers, universities, cultural institutions and businesses. These initiatives have contributed to the growing number of Spanish tourists visiting Pakistan while also opening new avenues for commercial engagement and institutional cooperation.
