Patang Baaz Sajna girl Fariha Pervaiz has truly evolved as she sings with a sense of innovation and adds value to her art. She recently performed at a fundraiser titled Mehfil-i-Naghmaan-o-Zaafran, and presented an interesting collection of popular Pakistani Urdu and Punjabi film songs, with Faiz’s Mujhe Se Pehli Si Mohabbat also finding its way into her repertoire.

She opened with Bulley Shah’s kalam and then went on to the all-time favourite Runa Laila filmi number, Kehti Hai Meri Nazar Shukria, Mehdi Hasan’s Mujhe Tum Nazar Se and on to Rahat Fateh Ali’s Mein Tenu Samjhana Ki. She was requested Lata Mangeshkar’s Lag Jaa Galay which she covered beautifully.

Next up, stand-up commedian Beo Zafar put forth hilarious jokes and funny anecdotes on various situations: a conversation between a begum saheb and a dhobi; assistants at a salon turning up late for work; a desi living in New York with a girlfriend; students learning Chinese and the Chinese owner of a salon entertaining desi men, etc. Both witty and funny, she imitated the characters perfectly. The evening was hosted by Sania Saeed.

The Citizen’s Foundation offers interesting and innovative performances almost every year at its fundraisers which are well attended events. However, the organisers need to make sure the venue and the acoustic requirements are just right for such performances otherwise the effort falls short of expectations.