ASH Profile
The Annemarie-Schimmel-Haus (ASH) in Lahore was founded under the auspices of the Pakistan-German Society Lahore (PGSL) and formally opened to the public in May 2003. It functions as a Goethe-Zentrum in close cooperation with the Goethe-Institut Pakistan (GI) and serves as a key institution promoting the German language and German-Pakistani cultural exchange in Lahore, one of Pakistan’s principal centres of learning and culture.
Background and Purpose of Establishment
Following the closure of the Goethe-Institut Lahore by the German Federal Foreign Office in 1998, a significant gap emerged in the cultural dialogue between Germany and Pakistan, especially in the wake of 9/11 and the War against Terror. The German Foreign Minister at the time, Joshka Fisher, later remarked that “the dialogue with Islam should never have been abolished and the Goethe-Institut in Lahore should not have been closed.” This sentiment reflected Germany’s broader foreign-cultural policy which recognised that genuine understanding between societies depends upon continuous exchange and cooperation rather than interruption.
In order to restore this important dialogue, the Annemarie-Schimmel-Haus was established as a non-political non-profit cultural institution. It was named in honour of Professor Dr. Annemarie Schimmel (1922–2003), the renowned German scholar of Islam and the Indo-Pakistani region whose life’s work symbolised intellectual and cultural dialogue between Germany and the Islamic world.
Mission Statement
To promote German language and culture in Pakistan, foster mutual understanding between Pakistan and Germany through a bilateral dialogue, and create opportunities for cultural, academic and social exchange.
Vision Statement
To build lasting connections between Pakistan and Germany through language, culture and collaboration that inspire mutual respect and shared growth and opportunities
Aims & Objectives
To foster mutual understanding and strengthen relations between Pakistan and Germany through linguistic, cultural, academic, and social exchanges. The society seeks to promote German language and culture, facilitate programs in collaboration with cultural institutions, and provide platforms for meaningful academic, business, and social interactions
Function & Areas of Operation:
The ASH was created with a dual mission:
1. Language and Education – To promote the study of the German language in Pakistan by offering courses from level A1 to C1 fully aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and conducted according to the Goethe-Institut’s standards. The ASH also serves as the official examination centre for the Goethe-Institut’s internationally recognised German language exams in Lahore.
2. Cultural Exchange and Dialogue – To organise and host cultural events that foster mutual understanding and creative exchange between Germany and Pakistan. These activities include exhibitions, film screenings, concerts, theatre performances, lectures and literary readings all aimed at strengthening intercultural communication and friendship.
Governance and Structure
The ASH is managed by the Pakistan-German Society Lahore (PGSL) which is registered under the Foreign Cultural Society Associations (Regulation of Functioning) Act, 1860. The Board of the PGSL includes high-level representatives such as the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Pakistan, the Director of the Goethe-Institut Pakistan and the Honorary Consul of Germany in Lahore and notable intellectual, educationists and artists of the city. This structure ensures transparency, accountability and alignment with the objectives of German-Pakistani cultural cooperation.
Since 2005 the ASH has shared its premises with its counterpart from France, the Alliance Française de Lahore creating a vibrant space for European cultural collaboration and ensuring cost-effective use of resources.
Significance and Ongoing Role
The Annemarie-Schimmel-Haus represents a continued commitment by both Germany and Pakistan to sustained intercultural dialogue and educational exchange. It provides thousands of Pakistani students and professionals with the opportunity to learn German thereby enabling them to pursue higher education, vocational training and professional careers in Germany.
The ASH stands as a bridge between cultures embodying the spirit of its namesake: promoting tolerance, understanding and the peaceful coexistence of cultures through knowledge, art and education. By maintaining this vital link after the closure of the Goethe-Institut Lahore the ASH has ensured that the German-Pakistani cultural partnership not only survived but flourished in new and dynamic forms.
Conclusion
In summary the Annemarie-Schimmel-Haus was founded to ensure that the German-Pakistani cultural and linguistic dialogue continues uninterrupted in line with Germany’s foreign-cultural policy of engagement and mutual understanding. Through its comprehensive language programmes, regular cultural activities and institutional partnership with the Goethe-Institut Pakistan the ASH continues to play a central role in strengthening educational and cultural relations between the two countries.
It remains a model of sustainable cultural cooperation rooted in respect, dialogue and the enduring friendship between the people of Germany and Pakistan.