The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad on Thursday launched the ”Let Freedom Ring” Liberty Bell display 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.
The event marked the culmination of a unique cultural collaboration between the U.S. Mission to Pakistan and Pakistani artists from across the country, brought together under the banner of United States’ 250th anniversary of independence.
At the heart of the initiative, the Mission’s Public Diplomacy Section via its Lincoln Corners network, collaborated with 16 Pakistani artists to create painted replicas of the iconic Liberty Bell. Each artist was invited to interpret one powerful question: ”What does freedom mean to me?” The result is 16 uniquely vibrant bells, each a distinct Pakistani expression of a concept central to the founding story of the United States.
The display will run from July 23 to July 27, 2026, at two of Islamabad’s most prominent cultural institutions: Lok Virsa Museum and the Pakistan Monument Museum. Members of the public are invited to visit both locations and experience the bells throughout the five-day display period.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Chargé d’Affaires Andy Halus reflected on the significance of the project: “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. 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.”
Federal Minister Khichi welcomed the initiative as a reflection of the strong bilateral ties between Pakistan and the United States, underscoring the role of art and cultural exchange in deepening these relations.
The ”Let Freedom Ring” campaign is part of the U.S. Mission Pakistan’s year-long Freedom 250 campaign, the United States’ year long, global initiative to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence through programs that highlight the enduring values of freedom, innovation, and excellence.
