The Khumariyan band from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will take centre stage to perform their widely recognised and powerful fusion of traditional Pashto folk music with contemporary influences at the first edition of Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) live series on 14 February.

Khumariyaan’s unique tunes focuses on elevating music as a medium of peace and breaking away from the South Asian tradition of vocal-based music. The band composes with minimal vocal fragments to enhance the overall harmony. Known for blending traditional folk music with modern styles, the band’s compositions are an attempt at preserving musical heritage and art. They will perform at the inaugural live series which is scheduled to take place at the PNCA in Islamabad, commencing at 7.30pm.

PNCA has formally launched its first-ever live series, marking a significant milestone in the promotion of live music and contemporary performing arts in Pakistan. The live series is a forward-looking cultural initiative designed to provide a professional and inclusive platform for artists from all regions of the country. The event aims to celebrate musical diversity, promote cultural dialogue, and reconnect audiences with high-quality live performances within an institutional setting.

The initiative has been conceived and produced by Inayatur Rahman, Supervisor Performing Arts at PNCA. Commenting on the launch, the Director General of PNCA stated, “The PNCA live series represents an important step towards revitalising live performing arts in Pakistan. Through this initiative, PNCA seeks to provide sustained platforms for artists from all provinces, promote cultural harmony, and present Pakistan’s diverse artistic expressions to wider audiences. We are pleased to begin this journey with Khumariyan, whose work beautifully reflects the spirit of regional music rooted in both tradition and innovation.”

Inayatur Rahman emphasised that the PNCA live series has been conceived as an ongoing cultural programme, with each edition showcasing different genres, regions and artistic expressions.

The initiative aligns with PNCA’s mandate to preserve, promote and present Pakistan’s performing arts, while encouraging creativity and contemporary interpretation. Future editions of the PNCA Live series will feature artists from across the country, strengthening national integration through culture and reinforcing PNCA’s role as a leading national institution for the performing arts.

Through this landmark initiative, PNCA reaffirms its commitment to nurturing artistic talent, supporting cultural innovation, and offering audiences meaningful and memorable live performance experiences.