LAHORE: The Lahore Arts Council (LAC) will organise a three-day ghazal festival from July 14 to 16 at Alhamra Art Centre on The Mall.

The council officials are of the view that the number of ghazal singers is reducing and there are no festivals for this genre of singing. Keeping in view this factor, the council has decided to hold a ghazal festival to promote this genre.

A similar kind of festival was organised last year as well by the council.

Both emerging and seasoned singers will perform during the three-day event. Seasoned singers such as Ghulam Ali, Hamid Ali Khan and Ghulam Abbas are expected to enthrall the audience on the occasion along with emerging vocalists.

The officials say the council has decided to hold ghazal festivals frequently. It is also planning to hold a ghazal singing competition, inviting students from educational institutions of the city.

It is believed that due to the demands of a commercial music market, most of the young singers are themselves writing, composing and recording their tracks which has undermined the role of original music composers and poets.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2017