25-Day Awami Theatre Festival Kicks Off with Grandeur at Arts Council Karachi

 By: Aziz Khatri

 Karachi: The Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi inaugurated the 25-day Awami Theatre Festival 2026 with great enthusiasm and fanfare. Sindh’s Culture and Tourism Minister, Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, attended the opening ceremony as the chief guest. President of the Arts Council Muhammad Ahmed Shah, Chairman Drama Committee Shehzad Raza Naqvi, Secretary Arts Council Ejaz Farooqi, members of the governing body, and a large number of theatre and showbiz personalities were also present.

Under the Awami Theatre Festival, a total of 29 stage plays will be presented in Urdu, Punjabi, Memoni, Balochi, Siraiki, and Sindhi languages. Performances will be staged daily at 8:00 pm, while two shows will be presented on Saturdays and Sundays.

Addressing the gathering, Culture and Tourism Minister Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah said that many senior artists whom audiences admired in their childhood were present at the ceremony. He remarked that legends like Umar Sharif are still remembered fondly by the public. He praised the Arts Council for consistently promoting quality theatre and urged the people of Karachi to attend the festival regularly. Advising young artists, he said they should learn by working alongside senior artists. He assured full support from the Sindh Government for all artists participating in the Awami Theatre Festival and announced that good news for artists would be shared at the closing ceremony. He added that cultural activities are being promoted across Sindh and that traditional machh kachheris are being revived.

President Arts Council Muhammad Ahmed Shah said that the Awami Theatre Festival has been inaugurated with the presence of all directors and writers participating in the festival. He described the Arts Council as an institution dedicated to artists and said its efforts for the promotion of art and culture are recognized worldwide. He stated that 29 plays will be staged over 25 days, and that directly and indirectly, around 400 to 500 people—including artists, directors, set designers, and technical staff—are associated with the festival.

He further said that the Awami Theatre Festival will conclude before Ramadan and that there is no entry ticket for the public. “Our aim is to ensure that even the poorest resident of Karachi can enjoy quality theatre,” he said, adding that 90 percent of Arts Council programs are free of cost. He noted that the Awami Theatre Festival is the council’s most popular and long-running festival and invited citizens to attend the performances with their families.

On the opening day, writer and director Shakeel Shah’s Urdu play “Seedhi Jalebi” was staged, receiving an enthusiastic response from the audience. The play revolves around the life of a Khawaja Sira who sacrifices everything to help a young boy become an actor.

During the festival, plays by renowned directors and writers including Wajiha Warsi, Sohail Abbasi, H. Iqbal, Rizwan Mirza, Syed Ali Dareen, Ehsan Amrohi, Hameed Rathore, Zakir Mastana, Shaukat Utrakhail, Shabbir Bhatti, Azmat Ali, Shameer Rahi, Tasneem Rana, Babar Jamal, Ilyas Nadeem, Nazar Hussain, Aftab Kamdar, Rauf Lala, Shakeel Siddiqui, Wali Sheikh, Danish Baloch, Adam Rathore, Saleem Afridi, Zahoor Malik, Jamal Mujeeb, Rasheed Sabir, Jameel Rahi, Asif Sharmila, Zahid Shah, Khalid Danish, Younus Memon, Rizwan Sabir, Parvez Siddiqui, and Sheema Kermani will be presented.

The plays to be staged include Seedhi Jalebi, Mirza Ghalib in Karachi, Hota Hai Shab-o-Roz Tamasha Mere Aage, Ulta Shulta, Bohat Ho Gayi Begum, Tujh Pe Qurban, Yeh Kaisa Daur Hai?, Wah Tera Kya Kehna, Rab Diyan Rehmatan (Punjabi), None Poon, Mere Friend Ki Girlfriend, Be Positive, Panjo Thino Karo (Memoni), Bad Rooh, Mareez Crore Ka, Lalay Di Jaan, Watan Ki Mitti, Kandana Biaay (Balochi – Hanstay Aao), Saleem Ki Kahani, Pardes (Siraiki), Palna, Ab Kya Hoga?, Tension, Yeh Kaisay Rishtey Hain?, Mohabbat Kya Bhao Hai?, Dil Ji Duniya (Sindhi), Nahlay Pe Dhala, and Mujh Mein Tu Maujood.

The Awami Theatre Festival will continue until February 15 at Arts Council Auditorium II.