TEHRAN -- Shiraz, the city of poets, gardens and flowers is to host the Grand Congress of Zand in May.

The congress will open concurrently with National Shiraz Day on May 4 at the Arg-e Karim Khan and will continue for two days in other parts of the city. Karim Khan used the citadel as living quarters during his lifetime.
Secretary of the congress Amir Sodagaran told the Persian service of CHN that the event is being organized in order to delve more deeply into the historical events of the Zand dynasty.
“We have not compiled all the information which is available about the country’s history during this era, therefore the congress is to be held first nationally to collect all domestic studies and researches, and further editions will probably be held internationally,” Sodagaran added.
He also mentioned that a film festival and painting and photo contests are to be held on the sidelines of the two-day event.
Karim Khan the Great ruled Iran from 1760 until 1779. He was the founder of the Zand dynasty. He never styled himself as “shah” or king and instead used the title Vakil ar-Ra’aayaa (The representative of the subjects). He made Shiraz his capital where he ordered the construction of several edifices. During his reign, relations with Britain were restored, and he allowed the East India Company to have a trading post in southern Iran.
Following Karim Khan’s death, civil war broke out, and none of his descendants were able to rule the country as effectively as he had done.
He is buried at the Pars Museum of Shiraz.
Caption: Life-size wax effigies of Kharim Khan (C) and a number of his attendants on display at the Karim Khan Citadel (Arg-e Karim Khan) in Shiraz