Bryan to sing for Pak quake victims

Karachi: Canadian pop-singer Bryan Adams is to perform at a fundraising concert for quake victims this month in Karachi, becoming the first Western pop star to play in Pakistan since the start of the "war on terror," organisers said on Saturday.

"Bryan is coming to Karachi to perform and help us raise funds for the October 8 earthquake victims," organiser Salman Iqbal, who heads the private ARY TV channel said.

The giant earthquake, which devastated Pakistani Kashmir and parts of northwestern regions killed nearly 74,000 people and made 3.5 million homeless.

Hollywood star and United Nations refugee agency goodwill ambassador Angelina Jolie had also visited Pakistan with actor Brad Pitt for charity work in November, a month after the quake.

Organisers said the 46-year-old Adam's performance in the southern port city would be the first in Pakistan by a Western pop star since the start of the US-led "war on terror" launched in the wake of September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

Pakistan, which shares a long and porous border with Afghanistan, has suffered several deadly attacks blamed on Al-Qaeda and their Islamic allies for the country's support in the fight against terrorism.

Karachi, Pakistan's commercial hub and largest city, suffered the highest number of attacks linked to Islamic militancy, including some against Western targets.

"We want to show to the world that Pakistan is a friendly country and its people love music and Karachi is no more a troubled city," Iqbal said.

Some 20,000 people are expected to attend the concert planned at the huge Arabian City club on the outskirts of Karachi, Iqbal said. He did not give any date for the show.

The co-host of programme is Zindgi (life) Trust, a charity organisation run by top Pakistani singer Shahzad Roy.

"This is the first time that an artist of Bryan Adam's calibre is coming to Pakistan," Roy said.

Adams, who is also popular among the educated Pakistani youth, had planned to visit Pakistan before the September 11 attacks but cancelled the trip after the attacks.

"We came into contact with Adams before the 9/11 and he was willing to perform here but the terrorist attacks on United States and the subsequent war in Afghanistan foiled our efforts," organiser Ahmed Shah said.

"This would definitely be a big show as we have not seen such a renowned Western artist performing here especially after the September 11 attacks," Shah, who had previously organised several music and art events in the country, said.

Organisers hope the pop star's performance will help lift the country's image in the West.

"Adams' show will prove that Karachi and Pakistan is as safer a city and country as any other place in the world," said Roy, who founded the charity to help street children.

"He is very popular with the Pakistani youth," Roy added.

Karachi last month successfully hosted the international Karafilm festival, where more than 100 feature films and documentaries from different countries including India, Iran, Bangladesh, United States, Germany were screened.