KARACHI (HRNW)- Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi featured vibrant cultural activities on the second day of the “Arts Alumni Festival,” including Talks session, theatre performances, DJ and Flash Mob classical Evening, and a grand musical night highlighted by captivating qawwali performances. The day began with an “Alumni Talk Session,” where alumni of the School of Visual and Performing Arts, including Taha Abbas, Asim Naqvi, Zehra Ali, Sani e Zehra, Faha Shabi and Huzaifa Khan, shared their experiences and professional journeys. President Arts Council, Mohammad Ahmed Shah, attended the session as a special guest. Speaking on the occasion, he said the institution had faced numerous challenges in the past, but significant efforts were made to rebuild the art school and promote students’ work in the market.We ensured that our art gallery did not operate like a private gallery. Our goal was to help alumni gain recognition in the market,” Shah said. He added that renowned collectors had purchased artwork created by alumni, which boosted their confidence and encouraged their artistic growth. Alumnus Asim Naqvi expressed pride in being a student of the School of Visual and Performing Arts, saying his dream became a reality because of his teachers’ support. He said receiving payment for his artwork for the first time was a memorable moment for his family. Taha Abbas said the institution played a major role in shaping his career and credited his mother’s trust and encouragement for his success. Alumni member Faha Shabi shared that despite initial discouragement regarding the field of arts, she is now financially independent through her work. Zehra Ali said her achievements brought immense happiness to her family, especially her father, who inspired her artistic themes. Sani Zehra highlighted the importance of family support, saying she overcame social restrictions to pursue her passion for the arts.The “Alumni Talk Session” was moderated by Mohammad Zeeshan. The festival’s second day also featured the theatre play “Mera Aangan,” a unique and thought-provoking adaptation of the internationally acclaimed novel “Aangan” by renowned novelist Khadija Mastoor. The play was directed by Fatima Adil, while the dramatization was done by Saqib Adil Malik. Artists, including Alizeh Javed, Saqib Adil, Sheryl John, Muneeb Sheikh, Fatima Adil, Zarqa Jabeen, Nafees Qamar, Rayan Hassan and Hamza Jahangir, won the audience’s appreciation with their remarkable performances. The second theatre production, “The Monkey’s Paw,” revolved around the story of a poor yet content family known as the “White Family.” The theatre play, based on a short story by British fiction writer W. W. Jacobs, was directed and dramatized by former SOVAPA student Farhan Rahim. Cast members Ramsha, Sufi Ghaus, Shehryar Anwar and Ayaz Ali delivered impressive performances, earning loud applause from the audience. The second day concluded with a spectacular “Grand Qawwali Finale,” where qawwali artists delivered soulful and mesmerizing performances that left the audience enthralled and immersed in a spiritual and cultural atmosphere.
