Karachi: The Pakistan Arts Council has announced the dates for the 2026 Public Theater Festival, which will begin on January 22 and continue for 25 days at the AC Auditorium of the Karachi Arts Council.
In a press conference held by the Pakistan Arts Council, Karachi, President of the Arts Council, Muhammad Ahmed Shah, Vice President and Senior Actor, Munawar Saeed, Chairman of the Drama Committee, Shahzad Rehman Naveed, and Secretary of the Arts Council, Ejaz Farooqi, briefed the media on the festival. President of the Arts Council, Muhammad Ahmed Shah, said that the theater “Dukhtar-e-Kashmir” written by Behsudazi will be presented at the Open Air Theater on Friday, February 6, as part of the Public Theater Festival. A total of 30 theater performances will be presented in Urdu, Punjabi, Meeni, Balochi, Saraiki, and Sindhi languages, with two performances per day on Saturdays and Sundays, and one performance per day from Monday to Friday.
Shah expressed his gratitude to the media and said that the Public Theater Festival has been a tradition for years, and they are not only holding the festival in Karachi but also in Hyderabad and Larkana. He said that they want to provide the public with a form of entertainment that is free of charge, and that Shyma Kumarani will also be presenting a performance. Shah said that the goal is to make the play enjoyable, and that the actors are more dependent on the directors to engage the audience.
Shah also announced that they will soon take over the charge of the Faiz Rehman Art Gallery, and that the Arts Council has already started a series of film screenings, with the famous director Nabeel Qureshi. He also mentioned that they will surprise the public with a big announcement on Eid al-Adha.
Vice President of the Arts Council and Senior Actor, Munawar Saeed, said that he started his career in theater and that he has always tried to perform his roles with full honesty. He advised the actors to work with honesty, enthusiasm, and hard work.
Chairman of the Drama Committee, Shahzad Rehman Naveed, said that Shah always respects the artists, and that they had a good Public Theater Festival last year, and they hope to have a good one this year as well. He said that they will try to spread the message of joy and culture to their people.
The Public Theater Festival will feature performances by renowned directors and writers, including Shukil Shah, Vajia Warthi, Sahil Abbas, H. Iqbal, Rizwan, Syed Ali Daryan, Ihsan Amrohi, Hamid Rathod, Zahak Mastana, Shaukat Atrakhil, Shabir Bhatty, Azmat Ali, Shamer Rahi, Tasneem Rana, Babar Jamal, Elias Nadeem, Nazir Hussain, Afatab Kamdar, Rauf Lalha, Shukil Siddique, Wali Sheikh, Danesh Baloch, Adam Rathod, Salim Afriadi, Zahoor Malik, Jamal Mujib, Rashid Saber, Jamil Rahi, Asif Sharmila, Zahid Shah, Khalid Danesh, Younis Meem, Rizwan Saber, Pervez Siddique, and Shyma Kumarani.
The performances will include “Syedh Jalebi,” “Merza Ghulam in Karachi,” “Hota Hai Shab-o-Roz Tamasha Mere Aage,” “Ultah Shulth,” “Bahut Hogayi Begum,” “Tujh Pe Qurbana,” “Ye Kaisa Dor Hai,” “Vaah Tera Kya Kehna,” “Rab Diyan Rahmatin” (Punjabi), “Nune Poon,” “Mere Friend Ki Girl Friend,” “Bi Pazit,” “Punjhu Thino Kuro,” “Bad Rooh,” “Mareed Kror Ka,” “Lale Di Jan,” “Watan Ki Matti,” “Blouchi Theater Kendana Bai” (Hansata Ao), “Selam Ki Kahani,” “Parades (S
