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    T2F Rejuvenates Karachi with Ramzan Qawwali Series

    Ramzan Qawwali Series at T2F Karachi

    Written by: Mohammad Usman Mirza
    Posted on: July 09, 2015 | | 中文

    Qawwali performance at T2F

    The Qawwali is a musical tradition that goes back more than 700 years. Initially performed at the shrines of Sufi saints, it has gathered tremendous mainstream popularity in the last fifty to hundred years, becoming an integral part of Pakistani culture. The ‘Ramzan Qavvaali Series’ organized by The Second Floor (T2F) in Karachi aims to celebrate this long-standing tradition. T2F is a community space for open dialogue, featuring a coffeehouse, bookshop, and exhibition gallery. It provides our youth with a platform for social change through rich cultural activities, public discourse, and activism using the new media.

    On June 27th, 2015, I had the pleasure of attending a performance of the Ramzan Qawwali series. This event featured two brothers, Taj and Shaad Mohammad Niazi, in a traditional Qawwali setting. Both qawwals are sons of the late, critically acclaimed Moin Niazi, who was a recipient of the Pride of Performance award. Taj and Shaad hail from the Atrauli Gharana, and are amongst the finest modern-day practitioners of the kalaam of Hazrat Amir Khusrau. Their group has garnered popularity by performing widely across the subcontinent, from Pakpattan all the way to Dhaka.

    The event started at 10 pm, and continued till well after midnight. The beauty of the Qawwali is that it attracts people from all backgrounds. The diverse range of enthusiasts present at T2F for this event showed that Sufi music has no age boundaries. People well in their 70s were joined by young teenagers. Mothers had come with their families, and working men had come to take respite from their hectic routines. In a busy city like Karachi, T2F is playing the role of a place where one goes to relax and put one’s mind to ease. The event was a breath of fresh air for the city’s residents. The troupe captivated the crowd and sang some beautiful Qawwalis, even dedicating one to Sabeen Mahmud, the late founder of T2F. All of this was made possible at a modest fee of Rs. 300 (the money collected is usually invested in the renovation and upgradation of T2F’s various offerings, such as their book collection).

    A glimpse of the performance by Taj and Shaad Mohammad Niazi

    Speaking to some individuals present at the event, I found out their motivation for coming there, and what they thought of T2F and the event. Saad Ahmad, a recent graduate from McGill University, Canada, who had recently come home after graduating, was full of praise. “It’s a great thing, what T2F is doing. In Karachi, you don’t find places where people can just sit down and talk about books or culture. You just have restaurants and dhabas, and I’ve grown tired of that. I wanted something fresh, and this Qawwali night has just done that. Brilliant music played today, especially the way the Niazi brothers demonstrated control over their voices.”

    Osama Hassan, a young man working at Coca-Cola, Karachi said, “After a hard day’s work, I want to be able to attend such events, which enrich a man’s experience and make him better intellectually. Sadly, Karachi doesn’t have many places that one can visit or similar events that one can enjoy. I’m a regular here at T2F, and they’ve had some very enriching events.”

    T2F is a great place for young minds to become culturally aware. It offers a wide range of events for everyone who wishes to be a part of the T2F family. The ‘Ramzan Qavvaali Series’ will be ongoing for the entire month of Ramzan. Those interested should definitely pay a visit after checking the various events currently being offered by T2F. As for me, I will be sure to attend such enriching events in the future.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021