This report is a follow up to Cultural and Creative Industries in Pakistan, our 2014 report, which focused on creative enterprises based in Pakistan’s three largest cities (Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad) to explore the impact of creative industries on the economy. 

In this report, we move beyond the main cities of Pakistan and examine the situation in its often overlooked, second tier cities. We identified five cities across the country with thriving creative communities that have the potential to play a greater role in solving the social and economic problems that challenge their societies. Hyderabad, Peshawar, Multan, Gilgit and Quetta all have rich histories, but traditional crafts and art forms are at risk.

This report looks at the types of interventions that would be particularly beneficial to these cities, who would need to be involved to make these interventions successful and how they would need to be implemented. By responding to the needs of these quiet hubs of cultural innovation, national and international agencies can allow these local artists to flourish while also inviting a global community to discover and appreciate their unique cultural and creative heritage. 

Authors

Nordicity and British Council