ISLAMABAD, Sept 16: Saima Khushnood, the well-known dancer in the twin cities and her brother Waqas Khushnood, a Kathak dancer entertained the audience at the ‘coffee morning’ at a local hotel organized by the All Pakistan Women’s Association (Apwa).

Saima started with a traditional Punjabi dance, Bhangra and was followed by her brother Waqas Khushnood, who performed Katha Kali and then Saima returned again for her Kathak performance, a dance she first learnt and emerged as a teen-age star.

Sameena Hafeez Pirzada, the vice-chairperson of Apwa, while welcoming the guests to the first coffee morning after the summer break in the activities, introduced the artists. Najma Mehmoodullah, the chairperson of All Pakistan Women’s Association was also present at the function.

Some young women entrepreneurs were also present there, who had displayed their goods for sale and the small stalls were quite an attraction for the guests, especially the women diplomats or the wives of diplomats based in Islamabad.

The foreign guests from Turkey, Sri Lanka, Syria, Philippines, Malaysia and Japan were prominent in the crowd.

Ms Sameena said the tradition of ‘coffee morning’ once a month has been revived for the season and promised a better and bigger treat next month in the form of the annual dinner.

“The first annual dinner will be held on October 10, which will be a treat for the whole family. Keeping in view the traditions of Apwa, the annual dinner will be a ‘traditional’ affair where traditional food, traditional attires, traditional music and traditional dances will be presented for the entertainment of the members,” the vice-chairperson of All Pakistan Women’s Association said.