“Domi Forest’s Work Brings Countless Colours, Passion and Love to the City,” Says President Arts Council Muhammad Ahmed Shah
Web Desk
KARACHI: 13th day of the 25-day Third World Culture Festival Karachi 2026, organised by the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, featured a diverse range of activities spanning visual arts, yoga, cinema and theatre. The day began with a special visual arts workshop conducted by renowned Swedish artist Domi Forest, followed by a dedicated yoga session led by Azerbaijani trainer Gunay Ismayilova.
Throughout the day, students, young participants and art enthusiasts showed keen interest in the festival’s activities. The special visual arts workshop by Swedish artist Domi Forest was held in the lobby of the Arts Council, where she guided participants through a series of practical and creative exercises.
The workshop focused on sketching, visual expression and contemporary artistic techniques. Participants engaged in various creative activities and explored ways to communicate their thoughts and emotions through art. On the occasion, President Arts Council Muhammad Ahmed Shah thanked Domi Forest for her contribution, saying, “You are bringing countless colours, passion and love to this city and this institution.” He also announced that Domi Forest would return to the Arts Council in March for at least two weeks, during which she would conduct regular teaching and training sessions, bringing exciting news for all students. Speaking on the occasion, Swedish artist Domi Forest said, “We tell stories through our pictures.
The most important thing is not what happens during the workshop, but what you decide to do afterwards.” She added that the workshop served as a reminder that, no matter how much turmoil surrounds us, we can preserve our inner peace and keep the spark of passion alive. She encouraged participants to embrace whatever emotions emerge, saying that art is everything.
The Pakistani Punjabi film ‘Mango Jatt’ was also screened as part of the festival. Featuring action, comedy, romance and family emotions, the film received the audience’s attention. Following the screening, a special panel discussion was held featuring President Arts Council Muhammad Ahmed Shah, renowned actor Faisal Qureshi and actress and producer Hareem Farooq.
During the discussion, Muhammad Ahmed Shah praised both Faisal Qureshi and Hareem Farooq, describing them as exceptional artists. Recalling his long-standing association with Faisal Qureshi, he said that he considered him like a younger brother and a close friend. He also shared memories of filming the drama serial ‘Jaye Kahan Yeh Dil’ with Faisal Qureshi in Mauritius.
He further recalled that Hareem Farooq received her major breakthrough at the Arts Council through a play written by Anwar Maqsood and had taken on numerous challenges throughout her showbiz career.
Faisal Qureshi expressed his gratitude to the Arts Council for reviving the tradition of cultural programmes and festivals. He emphasised that such festivals are essential for fostering cultural exchange and creating opportunities for artists, filmmakers, producers, directors and writers from around the world to connect. He also appreciated the growing public interest in films from different countries and in diverse languages. Hareem Farooq said that ‘Mango Jatt’ was her fourth film as a producer and that working in Punjabi was also a learning experience for her.
She emphasised the importance of taking pride in one’s language, identity and culture and presenting them to the world in a positive and meaningful way. Describing cinema as her passion, she said the film was an effort to bring Punjabi culture and identity to a wider audience while offering family-friendly entertainment.
She also expressed her emotional connection with the Arts Council, describing it and its theatre as a school that had played an important role in shaping her artistic journey. Meanwhile, Azerbaijani trainer Gunay Ismayilova conducted a guided yoga session titled ‘Find Your Flow’. The session introduced participants to basic yoga postures focusing on physical flexibility, balance and proper breathing techniques.
Through breathing exercises, stretching poses and guided meditation, the trainer demonstrated techniques to reduce mental stress and promote inner peace. Participants enthusiastically took part in exercises designed to restore physical energy, improve focus and maintain balance. The 13th day of the festival concluded with two theatre productions, ‘Taleem-e-Balighan’ and ‘Begum Jaan’. Written and directed by Farhan Alam Siddiqui, the comedy play ‘Taleem-e-Balighan’ explored social attitudes and national values through a series of humorous incidents set in an adult education centre, using satire to highlight various aspects of society.
The theatre production ‘Begum Jaan’, meanwhile, portrayed the story of a woman who was once celebrated and admired but gradually faded from public memory as times changed. The play explored the life of a forgotten performer, highlighting themes of loneliness, changing social attitudes and the passage of time. Both productions attracted an overwhelming audience, with large crowds gathering at the Arts Council.
Due to the extraordinary public turnout, the entrances to the halls and auditoriums had to be closed. The performances were warmly received, with audiences applauding the artists for their outstanding presentations.
