Pakistani classical singer Mai Dhai featured on iconic Times Square billboard

Pakistani classical singer Mai Dhai was recently showcased on the iconic Times Square billboard in New York City.

Times Square, located in New York City, is famous for its digital billboards that display images of celebrities and major brands and is one of the most heavily trafficked areas in the world.

Mai Dhai, a singer hailing from Sindh province is the latest Pakistani celebrity to be highlighted at the buzzing location.

Dhai rose to fame for her unique voice and hit songs like “Kaid Ao Ni.”

The classical singer belongs to the Manganhar Muslim community, known for its rich musical heritage in Pakistan’s Tharparkar district and India’s Rajasthan state.

Spotify Pakistan, a digital music streaming service celebrated Dhai's feature on their official Instagram page, with a caption, “A voice like that of the cuckoo reaches Times Square directly,” alongside a picture of her on the billboard.

The post encouraged followers to listen to Dhai on the #EQUALPAKISTAN playlist.

The Equal Pakistan initiative by Spotify promotes both established and emerging female artists, recognising their contributions to Pakistan’s music industry.

Dhai received widespread acclaim after performing at various Pakistani musical festivals.

Her fame skyrocketed in 2016 when she debuted in Coke Studio’s season 8, performing “Aankhaṛli Phaṛookai” and “Kadi Ao Ni” with Karam Abbas Khan and Atif Aslam.

In October 2023, another Pakistani musician, Talal Qureshi, was featured on a Spotify billboard at Times Square. Spotify promoted his album “Turbo,” highlighting his fusion of traditional Pakistani music with modern electronic sounds.

Hasan Raheem and Grammy-winning singer Arooj Aftab were also among those featured on the Times Square billboard previously.