ISLAMABAD: World’s first Sufi opera singer Saira Peter enthralled the audience of twin cities late Friday night in a live concert at Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA).

The concert was a charity musical show by Saira Peter and other popular singers to help and support flood victims.

The show was organised by the PNCA in collaboration with Art Aid and Hunerkada College of Visual and Performing Arts while those who performed included renowned opera singer Saira Peter, Nouman Lashari, Jia Nouman, Nadir Abbas and Rajea Iman.

Saira Peter is a British-Pakistani soprano officially recognised as the world’s first Sufi opera singer. She is Director of NJ Arts London, a multicultural performing arts centre opened in 1998 by Sir Cliff Richard OBE.

She is also founder of Saira Arts Academy in Karachi. Peter gave solo western classical performances in the UK, US, Germany, Turkey and Pakistan.

The event is part of regular activities of PNCA to preserve and promote the musical heritage of different areas and give recognition to the artistes for their contribution in their fields as well as provide quality entertainment to the people. Schoolchildren also performed at the event.

Besides collecting funds for flood affected people, the musical show entertained the audience with melodies by singers accompanied by instrumental music on various popular tunes. It also provided a platform for artistes to show their skills, said PNCA Director General Ayub Jamali while talking to this agency.

Folk artistes and musicians have a unique identity in cultural mainstream of the nation and these artistes from various parts of the country are promoted regularly through various programmes of the PNCA including musical evenings, culture shows, exhibitions and travelling shows, he added.

Such shows serve as an excellent opportunity to enjoy the melodies and traditional songs in a live concert by the upcoming and established artistes while these shows also promote message of peace, love and harmony through combining expressions of the traditional musical heritage of the subcontinent, Mr Jamali said.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2022