Listening to Pakistani Sufi singer Abida Parveen has often been described as a divine experience, but the singer says she often hopes that rulers in India and Pakistan would listen more carefully to her message of peace.

“In Sufism, there is only peace,” Parveen said. “I have always believed that music and the arts is the best way to achieve peace.

“When I sing, I sing of peace, of harmony and culture.” Often called the heir to the legendary Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Parveen is today perhaps the world’s most renowned Sufi singer.

Karachi has had its taste of classical music recently. The beginning of February was marred with music performances in the city. The 2nd All Pakistan Music Conference just ended with giant classic figures from across the country performing for three days at a stretch. Then concerts by both pop and classical singers have been more frequent than ever with the start of this year. Abida Parveen also performed last week in the city for a Jashan-e-Baharan event and then there was a mega concert of Pakistani pop singers as a part of the Expo 2005 organized by the Export Promotion Bureau. Seems that now security threats are less cared about than ever and the local audience is open to come out and experience the joy of listening to live singers. Or rather to just see the musicians performing. Though, not as a part of any of the discussed events, Ustad Shahid Parvez, a prominent and international name in sitar playing, visited and performed at the French cultural center, Alliance Francaise last night. The audience was thoroughly engaged in the performance, which went on for about two hours without any break. The performer had a unique way of keeping the listeners enchanted via his sitar tunes.

Pakistan’s Sufi queen Abida Parveen said she will perform a concert in Bombay to boost peace efforts between India and Pakistan.

“Music knows no boundaries,” said Parveen, known for her musical renderings of Urdu poets such as Aamir Khusro, Kabeer and Bulesha.

“I’m happy I will be performing in this city for the first time and pass on the message of peace to my Indian brothers and sisters.”

“If a person stands on the border of India and sings, then no way his voice can be stopped from travelling into Pakistan.”