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Bryan Adams to perform at quake concert in
Pakistan
2006-01-07
Canadian pop singer Bryan Adams is to perform at a
fundraising concert for quake victims this month in
Karachi, becoming the first Western pop star to play in
Pakistan since the start of the "war on terror,"
organisers have announced.
"Bryan is coming to Karachi to perform and help us
raise funds for the October 8 earthquake victims,"
organiser Salman Iqbal, who heads the private ARY TV
channel, told AFP Saturday.
The giant earthquake which devastated Pakistani
Kashmir and parts of northwestern regions killed nearly
74,000 people and made 3.5 million homeless.
Hollywood star and United Nations refugee agency
goodwill ambassador Angelina Jolie had also visited
Pakistan with actor Brad Pitt for charity work in
November, a month after the quake.
Organisers said the 46-year-old Adam's performance in
the southern port city would be the first in Pakistan by
a Western pop star since the start of the US-led "war on
terror" launched in the wake of September 11, 2001
attacks on the United States.
Pakistan, which shares a long and porous border with
Afghanistan, has suffered several deadly attacks blamed
on Al-Qaeda and their Islamic allies for the country's
support in the fight against terrorism.
Karachi, Pakistan's commercial hub and largest city,
suffered the highest number of attacks linked to Islamic
militancy, including some against Western targets.
"We want to show to the world that Pakistan is a
friendly country and its people love music and Karachi
is no more a troubled city," Iqbal said.
Some 20,000 people are expected to attend the concert
planned at the huge Arabian City club on the outskirts
of Karachi, Iqbal said. He did not give any date for the
show.
The co-host of programme is Zindgi (life) Trust, a
charity organisation run by top Pakistani singer Shahzad
Roy.
"This is the first time that an artist of Bryan
Adam's calibre is coming to Pakistan," Roy said.
Adams, who is also popular among the educated
Pakistani youth, had planned to visit Pakistan before
the September 11 attacks but cancelled the trip after
the attacks.
"We came into contact with Adams before the 9/11 and
he was willing to perform here but the terrorist attacks
on United States and the subsequent war in Afghanistan
foiled our efforts," organiser Ahmed Shah said.
"This would definitely be a big show as we have not
seen such a renowned Western artist performing here
especially after the September 11 attacks," Shah, who
had previously organised several music and art events in
the country, said.
Organisers hope the pop star's performance will help
lift the country's image in the West.
"Adams' show will prove that Karachi and Pakistan is
as safer a city and country as any other place in the
world," said Roy, who founded the charity to help street
children.
"He is very popular with the Pakistani youth...," Roy
added.
Karachi last month successfully hosted the
international Karafilm festival, where more than 100
feature films and documentaries from different countries
including India, Iran, Bangladesh, United States,
Germany were screened.
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