First Ladies launch Pak arts website

WASHINGTON: The first ladies of the United States and of Pakistan launched a website on Thursday dedicated to Pakistani art, describing it as a vehicle of diplomacy.

"Learning about other cultures and countries is at the heart of diplomacy," said Laura Bush, wife of US President George W. Bush.

"By learning about Pakistani music, literature and theater we also learn about the people of Pakistan and their rich heritage," she said in a statement.

The two first ladies heard a sitar recital in Washington during the ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which sponsored the website, along with the Pakistan National Council of the Arts.

"Diversity has been the essence of our people and traditions," said First Lady of Pakistan Begum Sehba Musharraf, who is married to Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf.

"The people of Pakistan are making a real contribution in preserving the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the country.

"These can be seen in our art, architecture and literature," she said in a statement.

The website, designed for young people age 13-18, is called Gift of the Indus: The Arts and Culture of Pakistan, www.artsedge.kennedy-center.org/pakistan.   Washington-area high school students also attended the ceremony.