ISLAMABAD: The US Embassy on Thursday launched a "Let Freedom Ring" Liberty Bell display featuring 16 hand-painted replicas by Pakistani artists, marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.
The exhibition opened at Lok Virsa Museum in a ceremony attended by U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Andy Halus and Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi. It runs through July 27 at Lok Virsa and the Pakistan Monument Museum, two of the capital's most visited cultural sites.
The project was organized by the US Mission to Pakistan's Public Diplomacy Section through its Lincoln Corners network, in partnership with 16 artists from across the country. Each was asked to answer a single question: What does freedom mean to me?
The result is a set of vividly painted Liberty Bells, each offering a distinct Pakistani perspective on a symbol central to America's founding story.
Speaking at the launch, Halus said the project reflects values the two countries hold in common.
"Looking at this bell, I am reminded of something that Pakistan and the United States share deeply — a belief in the power of expression, of art, and of the freedom to imagine a better world," he said. "Lok Virsa has spent decades preserving that spirit in Pakistan. Today, we are proud to add America's own story of freedom to this special place."
Khichi welcomed the initiative as evidence of the strength of the Pakistan-US relationship, saying it reflects the countries' shared artistic traditions and long-standing bilateral ties.
"I would like to convey heartfelt congratulations and well wishes to the entire American nation on the historic occasion of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence," Khichi said. "We are here today to highlight the cultural and political connection between the two countries. Today is a day to celebrate the artistic tradition of our two great nations."
The Liberty Bell display is part of "Freedom 250," the US Mission Pakistan's year-long campaign marking the Declaration of Independence's 250th anniversary through programs highlighting freedom, innovation and excellence.
Members of the public are invited to visit both venues free of charge during the five-day display.
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