PNCA's 'Liqa-e-Ishq' explores Pakistan's musical traditions

The Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) on Saturday late evening transformed its auditorium into a sanctuary of sound, spirit and scholarship as it hosted "Liqa-e-Ishq — Mystical Musical Colours of Karakoram," an evocative cultural evening that resonated with the echoes of Pakistan's mountains, valleys, and centuries-old spiritual traditions.

Jointly organised by the Burushaski Research Academy (BRA) and Shan-e-Tajalli, with the patronage of PNCA, the program offered an intellectually rich and aesthetically immersive exploration of indigenous, folk, and Sufi musical traditions.

Rooted in the mystical and poetic legacy of the renowned Sufi scholar, poet, and researcher Allama Nasir-ud-Din Nasir Hunzai, the evening unfolded as both a tribute and a dialogue between past and present, scholarship and performance, devotion and artistry.

With a special focus on the Karakoram region, encompassing Gilgit-Baltistan, Hunza, and Chitral, the event also reflected the musical colours of Sindh and Balochistan, weaving together the diverse soundscapes of Pakistan into a single, harmonious narrative. Themes of divine love, wisdom, peace, national unity, and devotion to the homeland flowed seamlessly through music and poetry, underscoring cultural heritage as a living force that nurtures collective identity and social harmony.

The auditorium reverberated with soulful expressions as a distinguished lineup of national and international artists took the stage.

Salman Adil, Sitara Jahan, Khurram Latifi, Abid Karim, Gul Baz Khan, Tasleem Kausar, Sidra Rehmat, Tauseef, and Shoaib Sultan, along with renowned folk artists Gul Bahar Khan and Khush Dil Khan, captivated the audience with performances that blended classical, semi-classical, folk, and Sufi genres.

The melancholic strains of traditional instruments, particularly the rubab, carried listeners across spiritual landscapes, sometimes meditative, sometimes ecstatic, yet always deeply rooted in the soil of indigenous expression.

The evening was further honored by the presence of Parliamentary Secretary Ms. Farah Naz Akbar as a distinguished guest. She was warmly received and presented with traditional attire and a Karakoram shawl, symbolising the region's rich cultural heritage.

Commending the organisers, she described the event as a meaningful and timely initiative toward the preservation and promotion of Pakistan's intangible cultural heritage, emphasising the need to safeguard such traditions for future generations.

Scholars, artists, and cultural enthusiasts attending the programme widely appreciated the initiative, noting its unique blend of research-based content and artistic excellence.

The event reaffirmed the role of music not merely as performance, but as a living archive, a powerful medium for cultural research, intergenerational transmission of knowledge, and the cultivation of national harmony.

By hosting "Liqa-e-Ishq," PNCA once again reinforced its commitment to celebrating Pakistan's vast cultural mosaic, reminding audiences that within the mystical notes of folk and Sufi music lies a timeless message of unity, love, and shared heritage.

The Pakistan National Council of the Arts is a federal institute under the National Heritage and Culture Division, Government of Pakistan. It was established through an Act of Parliament in 1973 with the mandate to lead the development of arts in Pakistan. PNCA policies are framed by its Board of Governors which reports to the Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Division. It is based in Sector F-5/1 in Islamabad. The Council is structured into four major divisions:

Visual Arts

The Visual Arts Division (VAD) was established /set up in 1974 initially named as "Plastic Arts Division". The Division has two operational components, when initiated; The National Art Gallery (NAG) & Design Section (initially functioning in a residential facility and shifted to its permanent venue in 2007).

In July 2017, China's culture was showcased at the PNCA.

Performing Arts

The Performing Arts Division of PNCA is mandated for the promotion and preservation of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. It is engaged in organising different shows/ programmes representing provincial/ regional cultures/ heritage – (Dance, Music and Drama).

Children Art Workshop

Pakistan National Council of the Arts has a Children Art Workshop section.

A National Puppet Theatre was also established in 1975. It was a step taken by Pakistan National Council of the Arts, Ministry of Culture & Pakistan in order to revive the most popular folk art, which was dying due to negligence. Two groups were sent to China for Rod puppet training in 1975 and 1979 and a third was sent to Poland in 1987.

NPT is carrying on its services to entertain/educate the children and norms through puppetry at home by conducting free puppet shows every Friday at Liaquat Memorial Hall, Rawalpindi in the past and is carrying on this at National Art Gallery, Islamabad with its eleven-member team. This team of National Puppet Theatre also holds shows every year to highlight important international events like Earthquake Victims Day, Kashmir Solidarity Day, Pakistan Day Celebrations, Independence Day Celebrations, World Tourism Day, and Universal Children Day & Quaid-e-Azam Day Celebrations.