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IPDS Partnership Case Studies · No. 4

Eight country corners: a model for lasting cultural partnerships

Since 2013 IPDS has opened permanent reading corners for the writers and languages of partner countries in Islamabad’s national libraries and universities. This case sets out how a corner is built, who contributes what, and what has lasted.

The Magtymguly Corner at Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, 2024.
The Magtymguly Corner at Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, 2024.
Period2013 to the present
TypeProgramme with embassies and national institutions
RegionAcross regions
StatusActive

01Context

Embassies want their literature and language to reach Pakistani readers. Pakistan’s national libraries and universities want collections and programmes that bring students in. A corner meets both needs: a dedicated shelf and display for a country’s writers, inside an institution that will keep it.

IPDS’s role is to bring the two sides together and to give each opening a programme, usually a seminar or conference, so that the corner starts with an audience.

02Partners and roles

Embassies and cultural centresThe partner country’s support for the corner and the ambassador’s participation at the opening.
National Book FoundationHost of four corners; Muhammad Asif Noor has served as its Book Ambassador since 2015.
Allama Iqbal Open UniversityHost of two corners in its History Museum, opened in the university’s 50th anniversary year.
National Library of PakistanHost of the first corner, in 2013.
United Nations Information CentrePartner for the UN Book Corner under the 2015 agreement.

03What was done

  1. 2013

    Heydar Aliyev Corner, National Library of Pakistan, with the Embassy of Azerbaijan (through The Diplomatic Insight). Source →

  2. December 2014

    Nizami Ganjavi Corner, National Book Foundation, with the Embassy of Azerbaijan. Source →

  3. 2015

    UN Book Corner, under the agreement with the UN Information Centre. Source →

  4. October 2015

    Ambassadors of Portugal and Brazil visit the National Library and the National Book Foundation to prepare a Portuguese-language corner. Source →

  5. October 2016

    Hafiz Shirazi Corner, National Book Foundation, with the Cultural Consulate of Iran. Source →

  6. April 2017

    Talk on Ibn Khaldun at the National Book Foundation, with the Ambassador of Tunisia as chief guest. Source →

  7. October 2017

    Camões Corner for Luís de Camões and the Portuguese language, National Book Foundation, with the Embassy of Portugal and the Camões Institute. Source →

  8. January 2018

    Ibn Khaldun Corner, National Book Foundation, with the Embassy of Tunisia; the Adviser to the Prime Minister on National History and Literary Heritage was chief guest. Source →

  9. October 2024

    Magtymguly Corner, Allama Iqbal Open University, with the Embassy of Turkmenistan. Source →

  10. February 2025

    Hafez Shirazi Corner, Allama Iqbal Open University, with the Embassy of Iran. Source →

  11. August 2026

    The Nizami Ganjavi Corner, renovated, is reopened by the Ambassador of Azerbaijan. Source →

04Outputs

8Corners opened, 2013–2025
6Partners: five embassies and the UN Information Centre
3Host institutions: National Library, National Book Foundation and Allama Iqbal Open University

05Results

Corners outlast their opening

The Nizami Ganjavi Corner, opened in 2014, was renovated and reopened by the Ambassador of Azerbaijan in August 2026, twelve years on.

Evidence →

Government involvement

Openings have drawn the Adviser to the Prime Minister on National History and Literary Heritage (2018) and the Federal Secretary for National Heritage and Culture (2024).

Evidence →

A route from a talk to a corner

With Tunisia, a 2017 talk on Ibn Khaldun led to a corner the following year; with Portugal, a 2015 visit by the Ambassador led to the Camões Corner in 2017.

Evidence →

Corners inside a museum

At AIOU the corners were placed in the university’s History Museum, designed by the calligrapher and artist Azeem Iqbal.

Evidence →

06How the partnership works

Three parties, clear roles

The embassy brings the books and the guest of honour, the host institution provides space and care, and IPDS convenes, programmes and documents.

Open with a programme

Each corner opens with a seminar, talk or conference, so it starts with an audience and press coverage.

Build on a standing role

Muhammad Asif Noor’s role as the National Book Foundation’s Book Ambassador gave IPDS a continuing relationship with the host, not a one-off booking.

07Evidence and citation

  1. Heydar Aliyev Corner (The Diplomatic Insight, 2013)
  2. Nizami Ganjavi Corner (IPDS, 2014)
  3. Camões Corner (Embassy of Portugal)
  4. Ibn Khaldun Corner (IPDS, 2018)
  5. Magtymguly Corner (The Diplomatic Insight, 2024)
  6. Hafez Shirazi Corner (The Diplomatic Insight, 2025)

Corners opened before 2013 through The Diplomatic Insight may be recorded only in print issues of the magazine; they will be added when a source is available.

Cite this case studyInstitute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (2026). Eight country corners: a model for lasting cultural partnerships. IPDS Partnership Case Studies, No. 4. Islamabad: IPDS. https://ipd.org.pk/about-us/partners/case-studies/country-corners/ (last reviewed October 2026).
All corners on Partnerships in Practice →A decade with Turkmenistan →
← Case study No. 3Vienna: three roles at a European security forumCase study No. 5 →Young women leaders: a congress built with partners

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Last reviewed October 2026. Partners named in a case study can ask for corrections at info@ipd.org.pk.

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