ISLAMABAD, Dec 15: Saturday night saw the opening of a gleaming new gallery in Islamabad, Abida Parveen Gallerie or AP Gallerie, as it’s popularly called.

The new space showcased an array of designer products under one roof – music, art and jewellry - ranging from bridal wear to casual, from embroidery boutique to branded handbags for both men and women.

“Promotion of arts and culture is the basic theme of the AP Gallerie,” said owner of the gallery and an icon of spiritual music, Abida Parveen.

Apart from the regular display of art in various styles, the AP Gallerie had scheduled a show of contemporary, abstract, figurative, Islamic calligraphy and representational art works. Paintings of famous artists like Rashid Butt, Zawar Hussain, AQ Arif, Hanif Ramay, and Aqil Solangi were displayed.

Preserving the treasure of Sufi verses in audio forms for generations to come, all of Abida Parveen’s popular albums consisting of the past three decades would be available at the AP Gallerie.

The collection includes recordings of her international concerts held in India, Gulf, Europe and America.

The maestro announced that her new album would be coming out soon, based on verses of Sufi mystic Shahbaz Kalandar, Shah Shams Tabriz and Shams Sabzwari and all sung in the Persian language. The album would be launched from the platform of AP Gallerie.

The gallery also included space for diamond jewelry, designed by Abida Parveen’s daughter.

Some of the known brands in menswear, included Karachi and Lahore based designers like Deepak Parvani, DNF and Emraan Rajput.

In women’s wear some of the prominent names included Ahmed Bilal, Nadia Mistry and Asim Jofa.

It was a pleasure for guests to meet famous artists, including calligraphy painter Rashid Butt and of course Abida Parveen, who personally greeted her admirers.