Islamabad (TDI): The Ambassador of France to Pakistan, Nicolas Galey, awarded the Chevalier de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) to Razi Ahmed, who is the founder and President of the Lahore Literary Festival (LLF), in recognition and acknowledgment of his efforts and exceptional contributions to the fields of culture, art and literature.
This prestigious award conferred on Razi Ahmed by the French Ministry of Culture has previously been given to author T.S Elliot, actor Meryl Streep and musician David Bowie, among others. This award is the French equivalent of Britain’s Knighthood.
The ceremony paid tribute to Ahmed’s extraordinary work for inculcating the love arts and literature in Pakistan. As the Chair of Alhamra Arts Council and LLF, Ahmed has been instrumental in introducing Pakistan’s culture, arts and literature globally, in LLF New York and London editions; held in partnership with the Asia Society and British Library.
گیارہ جون دو ہزار پچیس کر سفیر کی رہائش گاہ پر ایک خوبصورت تقریب کے دوران تمغہ کے وصول کنندہ کے اہل خانہ اور پاکستانی ثقافتی دینا کی شخصیات کی موجودگی میں 🇫🇷🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/zcFS0WFrx2
— France in Pakistan 🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@FranceinPak) June 12, 2025
The Lahore Literary Festival is a leading literary and cultural event of South Asia which was launched in 2013 by Razi Ahmed. It provides a platform where all celebrated writers, artists and intellectuals gather from around the world to exchange culture and arts. LLF’s efforts over these years resulted in UNESCO designating Lahore as “City of Literature” in 2019.
The conferment of this award also reflects on the cultural ties between France and Pakistan, which are rooted in mutual respect and shared commitment to arts, culture and literature. Ambassador Nicolas Galey appreciated Razi Ahmed in his remarks and also emphasized that the award is not only a symbol of appreciation for Ahmed’s individual efforts but also reflects the growing cultural ties between the two countries.
The Diplomatic Insight is a digital and print magazine focusing on diplomacy, defense, and development publishing since 2009.
