Canadian rocker Bryan Adams thrilled 10,000 fans at a concert in
Karachi overnight, the first big show by a Western singer in Pakistan in
decades, to help students affected by country's Oct. 8 earthquake.
Adams, who performed most of his hits and moved the audience with 'Summer of
69', said he was glad to discover new fans in Pakistan.
"I am here because this city has a special love for music," the singer
greeted his fans at the Arabian Sea Club on the outskirts of Karachi, as
hundreds of Pakistani police guarded roads and checked vehicles leading to the
venue.
The Canadian rocker said before the show that he was excited to help the
victims of the earthquake in northern Pakistan.
"The whole idea of coming to Pakistan is very exciting on many levels ... we
are the first Western artists to come and play a big concert here," he singer
told a news conference.
"We are going to raise a lot of money hopefully to help rebuild some schools
in the areas that have been devastated."
Over 17,000 of the more than 73,000 killed in the quake were children who
died in schools destroyed in the quake. About 3 million people were left
homeless by the disaster.
The organiser of the concert, the Zindagi Trust of Pakistan, hopes to raise
20 million rupees (A$45,000) through the concert.
Adams, who will meet President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat
Aziz in Islamabad tonight, said he had no worries about coming to Pakistan.
Hardline Islamists oppose Western influences in Pakistan, especially rock
music, dress and movies, which they consider immoral influences counter to
Islam.
