By Adnan Hameed TWA ______ The Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) hosted a musical evening to celebrate Pakistan's Independence Day, where British-Pakistani soprano Saira Peter delivered a captivating performance that left the audience in awe. Held at PNCA’s packed auditorium, the event was graced by prominent figures, including Secretary National Heritage & Culture Hassan Nasir Jamy and Director General PNCA Muhammad Ayoub Jamali.

The evening's highlight was the presentation of an Outstanding Performance Award to Saira Peter by DG PNCA Muhammad Ayoub Jamali, recognizing her exceptional contribution to the event. Saira began her performance with the popular national song "Ye Waton Pyare Waton," igniting the audience's patriotic spirit as the hall resounded with chants of "Pakistan Zindabad." The program featured a rich variety of music, including 'Milli Naghma', patriotic songs, classical singing, Sufi 'Kalam', and a special Arabic song. Saira's operatic and classical renditions, delivered in multiple languages, received an overwhelming response from the diverse audience. Saira Peter, known as the world’s first Sufi Opera singer, envisions using music as a medium to unite people, drawing on its historical power to convey positive messages. While studying Western classical voice, she aspired to bring Sufi peace poetry to global audiences. She is currently collaborating with British artists to develop the world’s first full-scale ‘Sufi Opera,’ a musical drama based on the story of Umar Marvi. Notably, Saira is the first Pakistani singer to record an album of Sufi poetry in the operatic genre.

In addition to her remarkable performance, Jansar Ali from Sindh also took the stage, earning accolades from the audience.

In his opening remarks, DG PNCA Muhammad Ayoub Jamali warmly welcomed the guests and praised Saira Peter for her extraordinary contributions to the evening. Saira Peter, who holds MSc and MA degrees from London, serves as the Director of NJ Arts London, a multicultural performing arts center founded in 1998 by Sir Cliff Richard OBE. She is also the founder of the Saira Arts Academy (SAA), inaugurated in Lahore in 2023 by former Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Syed Jamal Shah.