H.E. Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Iran, visited Central BookCity on Tuesday, 29 July 2026, for discussions on expanding cultural diplomacy and strengthening literary ties between the two neighbouring countries. During the visit, senior representatives of BookCity and the Embassy explored opportunities for cooperation in publishing, the translation of contemporary literature, and cultural industries.
The programme began with a tour of Central BookCity, where Pedram Alvandi, Director of Central BookCity, introduced the institution’s various departments and highlighted its role as Iran’s largest showcase for cultural products. He noted that BookCity offers an ideal platform for presenting the works of Pakistani writers, publishers and artists to Iranian audiences.
Morteza Kardar, Managing Director of Hermes Publications, reflected on the limited mutual familiarity with contemporary literature in Iran and Pakistan. While acknowledging the recognition of literary figures such as Iftikhar Arif and Arif Naushahi among Iranian readers, he argued that contemporary Pakistani literature remains largely unexplored in Iran.
Describing Muhammad Iqbal as a shared literary inheritance rather than simply a Pakistani poet, Kardar proposed preparing a new scholarly Persian edition of Iqbal’s complete works. Hermes Publications, he said, would welcome collaboration with the Embassy to produce an authoritative edition worthy of introducing Iqbal to a new generation of readers.
Ali Asghar Mohammadkhani, Deputy Director for Cultural Affairs at BookCity, emphasised the historic significance of the Persian language across the Indian subcontinent. Referring to the teaching of Persian at more than twenty Pakistani universities, he highlighted the remarkable manuscript heritage preserved in the region, including more than one million Persian manuscripts, among them over 1,600 copies of works by Saadi.
He also called for renewed literary cooperation through projects focusing on women writers, children’s literature and reciprocal translation. Introducing the works of Pakistani authors such as Kishwar Naheed, Fahmida Riaz and Parveen Shakir to Iranian readers, he suggested, should become a shared cultural priority.
Farah Nazari, Managing Director of BookCity Trading Company, reviewed BookCity’s three decades of activity in promoting high-quality cultural products and supporting international publishing standards. She reaffirmed BookCity’s long-standing commitment to copyright and expressed interest in expanding commercial cooperation with Pakistan in children’s creative products, stationery, art supplies and other cultural industries.
Ambassador Imran Ahmed Siddiqui described Persian as an essential part of Pakistan’s intellectual and literary heritage. He noted that Persian had served for centuries as the language of administration, education and scholarship throughout the region, adding that major Urdu poets such as Faiz Ahmed Faiz demonstrated how deeply Persian continues to shape the literary imagination of Pakistan.
Welcoming the proposal to establish a joint working group, the Ambassador encouraged cultural cooperation beyond governmental channels. He highlighted the growing community of Urdu translators in Iran and suggested organising exhibitions, literary programmes and cultural events that would present a richer and more contemporary image of Pakistan to Iranian audiences.
Closing the meeting, BookCity CEO Ali Jafarabadi observed that the relationship between Iran and Pakistan extends far beyond geography, resting instead on centuries of shared linguistic, literary, historical and spiritual traditions. Persian and Urdu, he argued, continue to provide a living foundation for deeper mutual understanding.
Jafarabadi described books as windows into the lived experiences of neighbouring societies and translation as one of the most profound forms of cultural dialogue. He reaffirmed BookCity’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Pakistan through exchanges among writers, translators, publishers, scholars and cultural institutions, expressing hope that the visit would lead to lasting collaborations in literature, translation and cultural exchange.
The visit concluded with Ambassador Siddiqui signing the BookCity guest book, where he expressed his appreciation for BookCity’s contribution to the promotion of knowledge and culture and reaffirmed his support for closer intellectual and cultural cooperation between Iran and Pakistan.
Photos: Pariya Fathi and Mojtaba Salek
