By Manzoor Alam Balakoti,,
Karachi: Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi successfully concluded its 26-day “ Awami Theatre Festival 2026” with a grand closing ceremony held at Auditorium II, A large number of artists, cultural personalities, and theatre enthusiasts attended the event. Provincial Labour, Human Resources and Social Security Minister Saeed Ghani, graced the ceremony as chief guest. President Arts Council, Muhammad Ahmed Shah, and Chairman Drama Committee, Shahzad Raza Naqvi, were also present on the occasion. During the ceremony, Saeed Ghani and Muhammad Ahmed Shah distributed shields, certificates, and cheques among the directors who participated in the festival. The festival, which began on January 22, featured a total of 30 plays performed in multiple languages including Urdu, Punjabi, Memoni, Balochi, Saraiki, and Sindhi. The event showcased the rich cultural diversity of Pakistan’s theatrical landscape. Prominent personalities who attended the closing ceremony included Shakil Siddiqui, Wajahat Warisi, Shakil Shah, Sohail Abbasi, Rizwan Mirza, Ahsan Amrohi, Hameed Rathore, Zakir Mastana, Sabir Bhatti, Shameer Rahi, Tasneem Rana, Ilyas Nadeem, Nazar Hussain, Aftab Kamdar, Wali Sheikh, H. Iqbal, Danish Baloch, Adam Rathore, Saleem Afridi, Zahoor Malik, Jamal Mujeeb, Jameel Rahi, Asif Sharmeela, Zahid Shah, Younus Memon, Rizwan Sabir, Pervez Siddiqui, Sheema Kermani, and Aamir Rambo, along with a large audience. The ceremony was Moderated by Nauman Khan. Addressing the audience, Saeed Ghani congratulated Muhammad Ahmed Shah and his team for the successful organization of the festival. He remarked that Muhammad Ahmed Shah’s leadership has been instrumental in transforming the Arts Council into a prestigious institution recognized internationally. Recalling the past, he said there was a time when the Arts Council witnessed little activity and minimal member participation. Today, however, it stands as an internationally acknowledged cultural institution. He mentioned that during the World Culture Festival, a foreign artist had expressed admiration, stating that institutions of such high standards are rarely seen worldwide. He further stated that the government alone couldn’t build institutions of this caliber; it requires vision, dedication, and consistent hard work. He emphasized that the Arts Council provides equal opportunities to all talented individuals without discrimination based on color, race, appearance, or culture. He added that Muhammad Ahmed Shah’s passion for introducing new and positive initiatives forms the foundation of the Council’s continued success. In his remarks, Muhammad Ahmed Shah expressed his desire for the younger generation to remain consistently engaged with theatre and carry forward this tradition. He said the Arts Council serves as a platform for children, youth, and senior artists alike, and aims to ensure that theatre activities continue throughout the year rather than being limited to a few days. A permanent strategy will be devised to sustain theatrical performances year-round. He highlighted that the Arts Council has previously organized major events including the World Culture Festival, Urdu Conference, and numerous music programs.Muhammad Ahmed Shah stated that the primary objective of the Public Theatre Festival was to bring joy and laughter to the people of Karachi ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, especially during challenging times faced by citizens. He expressed satisfaction over the large number of families who attended the festival and noted that free entry was ensured to maximize public participation. The ceremony concluded with all theatre directors and artists giving a standing ovation to Muhammad Ahmed Shah in recognition of his contributions to the arts and culture sector.
