KARACHI: The 21-day “Public Theater Festival 2024” organized by the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi was inaugurated by the President of the Arts Council, Muhammad Ahmad Shah. In the opening ceremony, notable artists including Nazar Hussain, Adam Rathore, Shakeel Siddiqui, Rauf Lala, Zakir Mastana, Shakeel Shah, Younis Memon, Zahid Shah, Tasneem Rana, Rizwan Sabir, Danish Baloch, Wajeha Warsi, Aamir Rambo, Abdul Hameed Rathore, Jameel Rahi, Khadim Hussain Achvi, and Ilyas Nadeem participated. Speaking at the opening ceremony, President Ahmad Shah emphasized that the festival aims to spread smiles on people’s faces and is dedicated to the youth of the country.
According to Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, the festival is being held for the first time in an AC auditorium instead of open air, offering free entertainment to the public. Ahmad Shah highlighted the importance of the festival in honoring local artists and maintaining the tradition of public theater. Actor Rauf Lala praised Ahmad Shah’s efforts in restoring the cultural vibrancy of Karachi through events like the World Culture Festival. He also paid tribute to legendary artists such as Moin Akhtar, Umar Sharif, and Sikandar Sanam.
Actor Zakir Mastana acknowledged Ahmad Shah’s continuous efforts to entertain Karachi’s public and support the theater’s revival. The festival features plays in various languages, including Urdu, Sindhi, Pashto, Saraiki, and Memini. Director Zahid Shah expressed his appreciation for Ahmad Shah’s commitment to the artist community.
On the first day, the improvisational stage play “Asheel,” written and directed by Shakil Shah, was presented. The play, featuring actors such as Zakir Mastana, Shehni Azim, Shanze, Shabbir Bhatti, Sapna Ghazal, Shehbaz Sanam, Ashraf Chirag, and Shakeel Shah, explores themes of desires and the consequences of worldly pursuits. The next performance, “Wah Sain Wah,” will be presented in the Sindhi language on November 9 at 8 pm. The festival will continue to offer plays on socio-cultural themes with free public entry.