Lahore: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has included Lahore in its ‘Creative Cities’ list for 2019, a news source reported. As per details, the UN agency has designated a total of 66 new entrants as members of its ‘Creative Cities Network’.
UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay recent made an announcement to this effect. He expressed his hope that this initiative would facilitate ‘political and social innovation’ and would be of importance to the youth. ‘All over the world, these cities, each in their way, make culture a pillar – not an accessory – of their strategy,’ he added.
As per reports, the purpose of the UNESCO Creative Cities project is to make these places ‘laboratories of ideas and innovative practices’. This initiative is expected to make a ‘solid contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through innovative thinking and action’.
According to UNESCO, the cities in the list have committed to advocating and achieving the SDGs; especially those that directly benefit communities at the urban level.
Each of these cities were selected for one particular field. Lahore was selected for ‘Literature’ and was accompanied in the category by Angoulême (France), Kuhmo (Finland), Wonju (Republic of Korea), Wrocław (Poland), Slemani (Iraq), Leeuwarden (the Netherlands), Beirut (Lebanon), Nanjing (China), and Odessa (Ukraine).
The other categories are gastronomy, music, design, media arts, and film.
