Pahlbod was born in capital into the musical family of Minbashian. His father Gholam-Hossein Minbashian, a professional violinist was the conductor of capital City Hall Symphony Orchestra (later Tehran Symphony Orchestra) and the director of capital Conservatory of Music for years. Pahlbod studied architecture in Switzerland and in the late 1950s became the vice president of the Persian Fine Arts Administration in capaital; an organisation which later became the Persian Ministry of Culture.
Beyond established figures, Pahlbod actively supported young and experimental artists, fostering innovation in music, theater, and visual arts. Through the Shiraz Arts Festival and other initiatives, he invited artists from Europe, the United States, Asia, and Africa, creating cross-cultural exchanges that were rare at the time.
