Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wins Best Pavilion Award as Lok Mela 2025 Concludes in Islamabad.
The 10-day Folk Festival of Pakistan, widely known as Lok Mela, concluded in Islamabad with vibrant cultural displays, traditional performances, and a strong celebration of Pakistan’s diverse heritage. Organized by the National Heritage and Culture Division, the festival brought together artisans, musicians, and performers from across the country, offering visitors a rich experience of local craftsmanship and regional traditions.
This year’s festival once again highlighted the exceptional contribution of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), whose pavilion was declared the Best Pavilio a title the province has now earned for the third consecutive year
KP Pavilion Takes Center Stage
According to an official press release, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA) received overwhelming praise from visitors for its culturally immersive pavilion. With 30 artistically arranged stalls, KPCTA showcased products and crafts from Abbottabad, Charsadda, Haripur, Swabi, Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan, Chitral, Mansehra, and the merged districts.
Visitors were drawn to the pavilion’s traditional hujra setting, where they enjoyed Rabab music, Khattak dance, and authentic cultural hospitality. The KPCTA team provided a memorable experience by blending art, culture, and tourism, aiming to project a positive and welcoming image of the province.
Traditional items on display included:
- Wax paintings
- Pottery and Mughal art
- Charsadda Chappal
- Khaddi and Swati Shawls
- Woodwork and calligraphy
- Chitrali caps
- Stone and glass carvings
- Hazara phulkari and traditional bags
- Truck art décor
- Straw work, mosaics, and decorative stone pieces
Stalls offering Chapli Kabab, Karahi, Tikka Boti, Qehwa, sugarcane juice, and other regional delicacies became major attractions for food lovers.
National Leaders Praise the Festival’s Purpose
Caretaker Federal Minister for Culture and National Heritage Syed Jamal Shah and Secretary Culture Humaira Ahmad attended the festival as chief guests during the event’s main proceedings. Jamal Shah emphasized that Lok Mela was organized to express solidarity with the people of Palestine and to celebrate Pakistan’s collective cultural strength.
He stressed the need for similar events at the provincial level, noting that platforms like Lok Mela give artists and artisans an opportunity to showcase their heritage. “Promoting national harmony and cultural diversity is essential,” he said, praising the artisans whose work preserves traditions that span centuries.
Awards & Recognition Celebrate Cultural Talent
The festival concluded with a colorful awards ceremony at Shakarparian, attended by Federal Secretary Hassan Nasir Jami, Executive Director Lok Virsa Muzaffar Ali Burki, KPCTA Director General Tashfeen Haider, and other senior officials.
Cash prizes totaling Rs 0.6 million were awarded to top artisans, musicians, and performers from across Pakistan.
Notable Award Winners from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- Fazal Wahid – Swati Shawls
- Kashif – Charsadda Chappal
- Aniya Wasim – Lacquer Art
- Maryam Mumtaz – Jisti Work
- Sheikh Usman – Jinnah Caps
Artists from Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan were also honored, highlighting the festival’s national spirit.
Cultural dances and folk music performances from various provinces added color to the closing ceremony, drawing loud applause from the audience.
A National Celebration of Culture and Unity
This year’s Lok Mela hosted pavilions from KP, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and several other countries, showcasing both local and international artistry.
The KP Pavilion alone featured over 50 artisans and multiple traditional food stalls. The Kalash cultural dance, performed by men and women from the Kalash Valley, remained one of the festival’s most admired attractions.
A tourism information desk set up by KPCTA helped visitors learn more about the province’s scenic destinations through videos, brochures, and booklets.
Preserving Heritage, Strengthening National Harmony
The primary aim of Lok Mela is to preserve Pakistan’s indigenous folk traditions and strengthen cultural unity across provinces. The festival gives master artisans, folk dancers, musicians, and craftspeople a national platform to display their talent, earn recognition, and connect with audiences.
Federal Secretary Hassan Nasir Jami commended Lok Virsa for its efforts, stating that no nation can advance in science or industry without respecting and preserving its cultural identity.
As the 2025 Lok Mela concluded, it once again proved to be a powerful symbol of Pakistan’s unity in diversity celebrating creativity, heritage, and the shared cultural soul of the nation
