KARACHI: The Arts Council is organising its annual commercial theatre activity called Awami Theatre Festival from Sept 18 to Oct 4.

The event is significant because it’s going to be the first major theatre activity in the city after the lifting of lockdown which had been imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic. This was said by the council’s president Ahmed Shah at a press conference on Saturday.

There will be a total of 18 plays, including one in Sindhi, one in Punjabi, one in Saraeki, and one in Memoni; the rest will be in the Urdu language. The first drama to be staged on Friday is titled Khala Khaylon Mein directed by Pervez Siddiqui, while the last will be the Zakir Mastana-helmed Yehi Sach Hai. The title of the Sindhi play is Khati Ayo Khair Saan. It has two directors: Altaf Soomro and Abid Naveed. The Punjabi play, directed by M Ali Naqvi, is called Mera Viyah Karao. The director of the Memoni play Ghabrayan Jo Na Aey is Aftab Kamdar; and the Saraeki play Opra is directed by Zahoor Malik.

Mr Shah said for the last six months activities had been put on hold because of the pandemic but by the grace of God Pakistan is now in a position to resume them. During the event the standard operating procedures (SOPs) will be observed. The Awami Theatre Fest will have champions of laughter such as Shakil Siddiqui, Salomi, Rauf Lala and Ali Hasan entertaining the audiences. The aim of holding the festival, which will take place in the open air auditorium, is to show how Pakistan should look like.

Eminent actor Talat Husain said he’d been coming to the Arts Council ever since he was 16 years old. He lauded the effort put in by the council’s president in order to help the cultural space do a worthwhile job.

Prof Ajaz Farooqui was the last speaker. He hoped that the audiences will enjoy the more than two-week long programme.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2020