ISLAMABAD, Jan 24 (APP):The Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) on Saturday evening successfully hosted “Liqa-e-Ishq – Mystical Musical Colors of Karakoram” at the PNCA Auditorium, offering audiences an intellectually rich and culturally immersive experience rooted in Pakistan’s indigenous and Sufi musical traditions.
The event was jointly organized by the Burushaski Research Academy (BRA) and Shan-e-Tajalli, with the patronage of PNCA.
It presented a refined scholarly and artistic exploration of folk and mystical music, with special focus on the Karakoram region, including Gilgit-Baltistan, Hunza and Chitral, while also reflecting musical colors from Sindh and Balochistan.
Inspired by the spiritual and poetic legacy of renowned Sufi poet, scholar, and researcher Allama Nasir-ud-Din Nasir Hunzai, the program highlighted themes of wisdom, love, peace, national unity, and devotion to the homeland. Through music and poetry, the evening underscored the role of cultural heritage as a source of harmony and collective identity.
A distinguished lineup of national and international artists enthralled the audience with soulful performances that reflected the depth and diversity of Pakistan’s intangible cultural heritage. Prominent performers included Salman Adil, Sitara Jahan, Khurram Latifi, Abid Karim, Gul Baz Khan, Tasleem Kausar, Sidra Rehmat, Tauseef, Shoaib Sultan, along with traditional folk artists Gul Bahar Khan and Khush Dil Khan.
Their presentations seamlessly blended classical, semi-classical, folk and Sufi genres, enriched by traditional instruments such as the rubab.
Parliamentary Secretary Ms. Farah Naz Akbar attended the event as a distinguished guest.
She was warmly received and presented with traditional attire and a Karakoram shawl, symbolizing the region’s rich cultural heritage.
Appreciating the initiative, she termed the program a commendable effort towards preserving and promoting Pakistan’s intangible cultural heritage and cultural diversity.
The event reinforced the importance of music as a living archive and a powerful medium for cultural research, intergenerational knowledge transfer and national harmony.
The program was widely appreciated by scholars, artists and cultural enthusiasts, reaffirming PNCA’s commitment to safeguarding and celebrating Pakistan’s diverse cultural legacy.