Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Argentinean Embassy has arranged a concert of classical and traditional Pakistani music to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Argentina and Pakistan.

The Argentinian Embassy, in collaboration with the Mausikaar Welfare Trust, organised a musical evening on Monday night here at a local hotel. The special Assistance to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs was the chief guest on the occasion.

The musical performances on the “table”, the flutes, the harmonium and other musical instruments added a lot of colour to the performances. Singer Anjum Affi sang different songs like “Alf Allah”, “Ya jo halka halka suroor hai”, “Tere ishq ki intiha chahta hoon” and “Lal mere pat rakhiyo”.

Earlier, the Argentinean Ambassador to Pakistan, Ivan Ivanissevich, said that it was a great pleasure for him that the embassy arranged a concert of classical and traditional Pakistani music to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Argentina and Pakistan. “Relations between our two countries struck very early, on a chord of reciprocal understanding and sympathetic feelings, which are very difficult to explain from a merely rational point of view. Thus, they were able to grow, and I am sure they will continue growing in the future,” he said. He added: “The chord that brings together two countries reaches the intangible, and it seemed to me only fair that we should celebrate it with music, which is probably the most intangible of all arts.

“I must confess to all of you that I have a special liking for Pakistan classical music, and in particular, Sufi music. I have learned to love the art of great instrumentalists, such as Ustad Salamat Hussain, as well as singers like Iqbal Bahu and Pathana Khan, and the poetry of Sultan Bahu or Bulleh Shah, even if I can only read them in translations ” the Ambassador said.