Karachi
Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said Sindh is the land of Sufi saints and the people living here believe in fraternity and tranquility and are lovers of folk music.
"It is the folk music which cements people of different cultures together. This is why people of Austria also love our Sufi music."
He was talking to Austrian Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Brigitta Blaha at the CM House on Monday.
The ambassador attended the meeting along with Austrian Honorary Consul in Karachi Babar Tajammul. Principal Secretary to CM Alamuddin Bullo, Additional Chief Secretary (Dev) Aijaz Ali Khan, Special Secretary Finance Hassan Naqvi and other officials also showed up.
The ambassador said she had planned to organise music festivals in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. "I love Sindh’s folk music. We are working with the National Academy of Performing Arts and would take a delegation of 20 to 25 artists, including folk music stars, to Austria."
"The artists would perform in Austria; and then our delegation would also visit Pakistan in March for the festival."
The chief minister, talking about Sufi poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, said he was one of the greatest poets in the world.
“His poetry has been translated into English, German and other languages. He has taught the lesson of universal brotherhood and humanity.”
Shah told the ambassador that there were a number of investment opportunities in different sectors in the province such as energy, road and tourism.
"We have a wide wind corridor for generating wind power; and the Gorakh Hill Station offers a vast opportunity of investment in the tourism sector.”