KARACHI: The three-day Arts Alumni Festival of the Arts Council of Pakistan began with an exhibition at the council’s Ahmed Parvez Gallery on Friday evening. The event was inaugurated by eminent artist and writer Anwar Maqsood.

In total, 31 artworks made by 19 artists (alumni) are on display. An interesting combination of subjects done in a variety of styles impress the viewer with the way the young men and women have produced them. Their topics range from social dilemmas to psychological challenges, and from personal journeys to portrait-like images.

Mr Maqsood, along with Arts Council President Ahmed Shah and Secretary Ejaz Farooqui, viewed the exhibits. He appreciated the hard work that the youngsters have put in.

Talking to Dawn, he said, “It is hard to believe that these young boys and girls have come from different parts of the country, producing such works of art.”

The artists taking part in the exhibition, which will conclude on Sunday (tomorrow), are: Jawad Ahmed Khan, Reshma Khan, Rida Ali Shah, M Jawad Hasan, Habiba Mujibur Rehman, Kiran Aslam, Kabir Ata Mohammad, Yasir Noor, Shehzad Baloch, Akash Jivraj, Stephan Yaqoob, Zahra Ali, Talha Abbas, Sani Zehra, Faha Shabi, Behzad Ahmed Warsi, Asim Naqvi, Zeenat Khan and Zarnab Baloch.

After the exhibition was formally opened, the guests were escorted to the main auditorium where the convocation ceremony 2026 was held at which diplomas were awarded to 28 students from the theatre department, 17 from the music department, five from the fine art department, three from the communication design department and two from the textile design department.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2026