Fifth edition of Shaan-e-Pakistan comes to Sri Lanka

Huma Nassr, the force behind Shaan-e-Pakistan (SEP) is all set to take on Colombo on 21, 22, and 23 March for the fifth edition of Shaan-e-Pakistan! 

“Personally, I’m always excited to take Pakistan to wherever in the world I can, but if you ask me, for this edition, my personal confidence has tripled. I don’t intend to prove anything to anyone but just work with the utmost passion to raise the Pakistani flag on Sri Lankan ground on 23 March in celebration of Pakistan Day,” says the driving force behind SEP, Huma Nassr.

A veritable power house, Huma Nassr is an experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the apparel and fashion industry. Skilled in business planning, retail, entrepreneurship, textiles, and sales management, she is a dynamic business development professional with a BA (Hons) in Fashion Textiles focused on Fashion/Apparel Design, from the London College of Fashion. She is indeed the force spearheading SEP!

“I am a very creative person,” says Huma and indeed that is an understatement in her case. “For me, my inspiration is the tradition and culture of Pakistan and I keep trying to invite international cultures to come and celebrate Pakistan alongside us, and this time I am doing it by taking our platform to Sri Lanka. Platforms and ventures like Shaan-e-Pakistan make us fall in love with our country all over again,” she affirmed. “They remind us why our rich culture, traditions and ancient sub-continental history is admired and envied all over the world. Indeed, Pakistan is the land of music, culture, fashion, food and unending festivity.”

For those who are not familiar with SEP, Nassr described SEP as a huge and unique Pakistani platform for culture, food, music and fashion which aims to project the best that Pakistan has to offer beyond its borders. It began around five years back when it was first held in New Delhi. In 2016, it took place in Lahore. It went to Karachi in 2018 and last year, Lahore hosted it once again. It has invited Indian artists as well in the past, to participate and to make their presence felt among Pakistanis so as to share positive vibes of friendship and peace.

Last year, Shaan e Pakistan Music Achievements (SEMPA) 2019, which took place in Lahore, celebrated music and acknowledged the work of some of the best musicians in Pakistan. This year, the upcoming fifth edition of the program incorporates art, culture, food and everything else that captures the spirit of Pakistan. With the aim of promoting the arts and crafts of Pakistan, there will be a three-day pop up exhibition for fashion designers, artists, crafters, women entrepreneurs, traders, and Pakistani food, a riveting fashion show and musical event. “In short it will be a complete cultural experience, guaranteed to mesmerise Sri Lankan audiences.”

The exhibition opens at Sri Lanka Convention Centre on 21 March, while the Business Forum will take place that same afternoon at Galadari Hotel which is the host hotel. 

The much-awaited fashion extravaganza which is scheduled for 22 March, brings to Sri Lanka the best of Pakistani couture and will feature famed designers Umer Sayeed, Ali Xeeshan, Kirti Rathore, Samant Chauhan, and Humayun Alamgir, as well as choreographer Lokesh Sharma, along with international models. Singer Komal Rizvi one of the Ambassadors of SEP will also be walking the ramp and will sing for the audience, as will Reath Band. In addition, the fashion show will feature local Pakistani talent like Fatima who will be hosting the red carpet, and Umer Shehzad and Alizeh Gabol on the ramp.

The closing ceremony titled Aik Shaam Pakistan Kay Naam will be held on 23 March, and will feature Salt Arts at Promising Shaan e Pakistan 2020, the music curator partners of this event. “It is an event that will pay tribute to the maestros of our country and will showcase numerous acclaimed singers and international musicians. We promise that Shaan e Pakistan will be the biggest celebration of Pakistani music on international grounds and what better place to experience this than in the scenic capital of Sri Lanka,” says Nassr.

“The main core element of SEP is that it’s not just me responsible for making the venture such a success but my major stakeholders are equally responsible, especially our esteemed Executive Director Irfan Pardesi from Zee Foundation who has been supportive of our last successful episode of SEPMA. He joins me again generously this season and has supported my vision to improve trade and create opportunities for small and medium enterprises and also start-ups. In fact, we plan to make this a bi-annual event. We should focus less on ourselves and more on growing together as one. We are ready to bring a spectacular show to beautiful Sri Lanka.”