‘Lok Khaba’ opens at Lok Virsa

Islamabad: The National Institute of Folk and Traditional (Lok Virsa) celebrated the grand opening of ‘Lok Khaaba’ and musical performance to welcome the New Year.

According to the Lok Virsa, the Lok ‘Khaba’ will be a hangout to enjoy traditional foods like ‘saag roti’, ‘chapal kebab’ and many more. The initiative is meant to create a space to gather exchange ideas, develop the taste for traditional foods and have a good time at Lok Virsa.

The management plans to have live music on the weekends and offer a special brunch package there. There were musical performances at the launch including by ‘shehnai ustad’ Mohsin Raza and other singers discovered through Lok Virsa’s open mic programme.

After the recent renovation, the Lok Khaba has a new roof shed, a renovated kitchen, better lighting and more seating space. Lok Virsa Executive Director Dr. Fouzia Saeed said food was the common factor of every culture that brought people from different cultural background closer to each other.

"Let’s make Lok Khaba a vibrant hub, not only for traditional foods but for gup shup, exchange of ideas, encouraging new singers and a hangout for creative people," she asked the people. She said it was a perfect time of the New Year to enjoy an afternoon celebrating the new Lok Khaba with music and food.

The Lok Virsa ED said the Lok Khaba was ready to welcome and serve traditional foods to a much larger crowd. She said in addition to the renovation works taking place around Lok Virsa, Open Mic and weekly music classes had been under way for several months.

President of the National Press Club Shakeel Anjum graced the event as the chief guest. He praised the efforts of Lok Virsa in keeping the young generation of the current era with rich cultural background inherited from their forefathers.

“Lok Virsa is playing vital role in preserving and promoting tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Pakistan”, President NPC added. People from twin cities also witnessed chefs working their magic through cooking demonstrations and enjoy live music with other fun-filled activities. Later, certificates also distributed among the graduates of Musical classes who completed their course of learning flute and rubab at weekly classes here at Mai Baghai hall of Lok Virsa.