ISLAMABAD: Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) has started organising live concerts online, featuring folk and classical artistes.

PNCA’s management said they remained active during the lockdown, not only for music lovers but artistes as well. They said this helped artistes in such hard times.

Zarsanga, a well-known folk name from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, entertained a large audience online while she was at home in Kohat. A local cameraman coordinated with PNCA to broadcast her performance. The community of music lovers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other provinces were thrilled at this initiative.

“The audience has acknowledged efforts of PNCA for making it possible for them to listen to their beloved singers when live performances have been halted,” said one of the organisers.

Other folk names including Bashir Baloch, who was given Pride of Performance award and Liaquat Parkoi, son of Murad Parkoi from Balochistan, also performed online the day before and received a large number of likes for performing Balochi and Brahvi songs.

“The aim of these live concerts is to provide entertainment tohome-bound people and help artistesfrom remote areas during the lockdown,” the organiser of the online events said.

Last week, PNCA Director General Dr Fouzia Saeed said lovers of art and artistes need not despair. “With mandatory social distancing measures imposed, the PNCA is working on new ways to keep entertainment alive. In this, the internet plays a huge role,” she said.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2020