Azerbaijan Pavilion

THEME: At the Crossroads Between East and West

PAVILION: The façade of the Pavilion is colored in blue, gold and white and is meant to have a distinctive Eurasian look.

EXHIBIT: The interior of the Pavilion has the spacious feel of an Arabic home with light colors and an expansive open courtyard. Visitors enter past a display of Icheri Sheher, the Old City of Baku that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and details the ongoing efforts to restore it and make it available as not only a tourist attraction but as a centerpiece of life in Baku. Around the outer walls of the interior are displays of Azerbaijan life and cities with a society going back 6,000 years in the region, showing artifacts of Stone Age civilizations as well as modern developments in science and technology. Cultural traditions are shown side by side with modernization projects, illustrating Azerbaijan’s traditional role as a conduit of treasure between East and West due to its position of strategic importance on the ancient Silk Road, and the country’s ambition to restore the Silk Road to its former use and prominence. In the center of the Pavilion, a large columnar kiosk and interactive electronic displays further inform visitors of the cultural traditions of Azerbaijan while they can also sit and enjoy performances of traditional folk music and dance.

CUISINE: There is no dining area listed for the Pavilion.

SHOPPING: There is no specific shopping facility listed for the Pavilion.

Note: This Pavilion was located in the Europe Joint Pavilion II

Pakistan Pavilion

THEME: Harmony in Diversity

PAVILION: The design inspiration comes from the Lahore Fort, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. This replica is built with new materials and new technology. The fort, which dates back to 1025AD (although it was given its current form in 1566AD), is the cultural capital and the heart of modern-day Pakistan.

EXHIBIT: As visitors enter the reception area, they are treated to a display of the faces of famous Pakistani leaders and ordinary Pakistani citizens. Typical Arabic architecture makes the entrance hallway impressive, with chandeliers hanging down, giving a formal look to the space. The first exhibition gallery is the Holographic model display area. It will show holograms of an ancient statue of a priest-king dating back to 2600 BC that was discovered in the Mohinjadaro area that belonged to a highly advanced civilization that existed concurrent to the ancient Egyptians, the Taxila civilization which is one of the sacred places of Buddhism, and of a typical modern Pakistani village. The walls of the gallery are covered with large photographs of Pakistani landscapes. The next gallery shows a 3D model of the national monument of Pakistan, currently undergoing renovation. The display utilizes multimedia projection to illustrate the characteristics of Pakistan’s four distinctive provinces. The walls contain lighted photographic collages of various aspects of Pakistani life – tourism, health, investment, education and so on. Visitors will then ascend to the second floor where they will be greeted by a display promoting the importance of the Pakistani military in promoting world peace. Also, various display areas will portray various aspects of Pakistani life as well as display the beautiful landscape of Pakistan. The next gallery will have a multi-media presentation illustrating the relationship between Pakistan and China dating back to the Silk Road more than a thousand years ago. One of the highlights will be a display concerning the Karakoram Highway, a modern engineering marvel that connects China and Pakistan along the route of the Silk Road. The final gallery will be a tribute to the important contributions of Pakistani women, including a 3D holographic display of Prime Minister Bhutto, the first woman to hold that position in the history of Pakistan.

CUISINE: Visitors can enjoy the distinctive clothing and exotic dances while tasting the local food. The Pavilion restaurant, located on the first floor, will offer barbecued meats and vegetables, along with a secret sauce, spices, rice and mango chutney. Two famous and popular Pakistani drinks, mango yoghurt and chai (a mellow milk tea) are also available. The restaurant décor will recreate a typical urban Pakistani café. There is also a small bar serving a variety of beverages. There are also computers available where visitors can submit their e-mail addresses to receive further information on Pakistan.

SHOPPING: There will be a souvenir shop near the Pavilion’s exit, with the intention of selling such typical Pakistani products such as sandalwood, agate stone, jewelry, bronze and hand-woven carpets.