Daily Times

KARACHI: With a mission to revive music, traditions and significance of Karachi as it used to be, I AM KARACHI (IAK) music festival hopes to promote talent and work towards a peaceful city. I AM KARACHI music festival kicks off with the 1st ever Lok Virsa Mela on November 11.

I AM KARACHI President Amin Hashwani explained the project’s objectives during a press conference on Thursday at Marriot Hotel Karachi. He said Karachi was facing a number of challenges which required all stakeholders to work together. He said collaboration was needed to revive Karachi and I AM KARACHI music festival would serve as the beginning of making Karachi a prosperous city. “Our aim is to make the young generation aware of our culture and promote new talent,” he said.

Arts Council Karachi (ACK) President Ahmad Shah said since IAK’s creation, ACK has been its partner and it was proud to collaborate with IAK. He said not too long ago, it was not safe to work in parts of Karachi but the circumstances had changed for the better. “Every individual has to play its role to revive Karachi,” he articulated.

Lok Virsa Director Dr Fouzia Saeed thanked the IAK team for making Lok Virsa part of I AM KARACHI initiative. She said that it was our duty to tell youngsters about our rich culture and traditions and Lok Virsa was doing its best in that regard. She said Karachi is the most diverse city of the country and Lok Virsa will bring people together.

Shallum Xavier, of Fuzön music group, briefed that IAK Music Mentorship Program was one of its kind in Pakistan. He said Pakistan had stopped producing good singers as it did in the past and IAK music festival would serve as the perfect platform to put a halt to that slump. IAK would provide promising talent with opportunities to succeed, he said.

The music festival’s Curator/Director Mekaal Hasan said music always spreads love which has no boundaries and I AM KARACHI is doing its utmost for music lovers. “It’s all about revival of music”, he added

I AM KARACHI Executive Director Ambareen Thompson said it was their aim to promote culture through all media; and music can play its role to bring people together. She said they were trying to use music positively so that a peaceful image of Pakistan is propagated and its people get to know of their culture and tradition.

While discussing I AM KARACHI music festival, she said it will continue for six weeks in different areas of Karachi where artists from all over Pakistan will participate. Lok Virsa Mela will take place from November 11 at Arts Council Karachi.

Published in Daily Times, November 3^rd 2017.