LAHORE: The three-day Pakistan Cultural Festival opened at Alhamra Cultural Complex, Qadhafi Stadium, on Friday.
Culture Secretary Muhayyudin Wani, film and TV artistes like Bahar Begum, Irfan Khoosat, Kanwal and Masood Akhtar inaugurated the festival.
The inauguration was marked by leaving hundreds of balloons in the air to the tune of live music, bhangra and horse dance. More than 60 stalls of handicrafts and traditional arts have been set up by people belonging to all provinces.
Cultural activity featuring artisans, magic and puppet shows, traditional wedding songs, performances by amateur singers and traditional food stalls is part of the festival, which has been organised by the Punjab government, the City District Government of Lahore and the Lahore Arts Council.
Alhamra Cultural Complex is the prime happening spot besides the Punjab Institute of Language Art and Culture for film screenings and Minar-i-Pakistan for performances by singers on the last day of the festival. Hamid Ali Khan, Shazia Manzoor, Humera Arshad, Fakhir, Shazia Khushk, Akhtar Chinar Zehri, Fariha Pervaiz, Sain Zahoor and a number of comedians would perform on the occasion. On Friday, amateur singers performed along with music students of the Lahore Arts Council.
Heer Ranjha, Yousaf Khan, Sher Bano, Kartar Singh, Umer Marvi, Mirza Jutt and Zartaja are some of the movies to be screened at the festival. — Staff Reporter
