ISLAMABAD: Subh-e-Nau, an environment and health concern, hosted a Rahat Fateh Ali Khan concert and dinner at the Marriott Hotel on Saturday night.

The charity event was attended by guests including socialites and dignitaries from government and diplomatic missions.

The event was hosted in the glittering crystal marquee where seats were arranged in lounge style.

Actress Ayesha Sana, the host for the evening, complimented the glamorous audience as she took stage and said: “The crowd in Islamabad always dresses to the hilt and arrives punctually. We are here to spread hope.”

The concert began with instrumental music played by the 10-man orchestra accompanying Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.

‘Allah Hu, Allah Hu’, originally sung by Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, set the tone for the performance. Segueing into ‘Surili ankhion wale’, an Indian film number, Khan had the audience spellbound.

‘Ishq risk’ followed and then ‘Tumhe dilagi bhool jani paray gi’, also by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, ‘Mein tenu samjhawan ki’ and ‘O re piya’. While no number went unappreciated, the applause was loudest for ‘Ye jo halka halka suroor he’, one of Nusrat’s most popular qawalis.

A guest, Aisha Luqman Afzal, said: “I thought it was rather fun. The lounges were a big disappointment as the sofas were extremely worn out and uncomfortable. But Rahat sang the best from his songs and the sound system was good too.”

She added, “Besides it is all for a good cause. However, no one came to me with the pledge form!”

Mahwish Chishti, the director of the charity, announced a minute-long silence for the Peshawar tragedy.

She said: “The organisation which is working for green concerns is committed towards preventing environmental degradation through various initiatives such as capacity building, awareness raising, plantation and sports promotion.”

She said that Subh-e-Nau’s Disability Reduction and Rehabilitation Programme was put together originally for sportsmen suffering serious injuries and was later expanded in response to the 2005 earthquake.

“An estimated 12 per cent of Pakistan’s population is disabled but they are hidden away from society,” she said.

Subh-e-Nau Chief of Research Dr Farrukh Ahmed said: “Our main message is that the incidence of disability is very high in Pakistan and the disabled are ‘warehoused’ in this country. Mainstreaming the disabled is critically important.”

Activist and artist Muneeba Mazari, who is also a paraplegic, said: “I am here to support the cause because I have experienced what mismanaged healthcare can do.” Muneeba went on to donate a painting to be auctioned to raise funds for the charity.

Ambassador of Argentina Rodolfo Martin-Saravia said: “I am deeply supportive of the cause. I am donating dinner for 10 at the Argentine embassy which will be auctioned to raise funds for the charity.”

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2015

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