A Pakol, a Palace, and a Private Performance

Thanks to Sarah Alam (from the U.S. Consulate of Karachi), we also had the opportunity to visit several sites around the city. In this first image at the downtown market, Brian is trying on a Pakol, one of the most "interesting" looking hats I have ever seen Brian wear. It is made out of a burlap-type fabric (though softer) with a beautifully hand-embroidered flat top.We learned later that it is a traditional hat of the Pashtuns, a large ethnic group living in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This was a significant coincidence in that Abrar Afridi, our security coordinator and friend, is very proud of being Pashtun and thus had taught us about the culture earlier in the week.

After Brian's talk at Jinnah University for Women, Sarah brought us to the Mohatta Palace, which has a significant history in Karachi dating back to 1927. After going through many transitions, it is now an art museum owned and administered by the Federal Government and the Government of Sindh (the province we were in).

We also visited the National Academy of Performing Arts, which teaches and houses performances in music, theater, and dance. We were fortunate to arrive at the moment some of the students were practicing new works for a fusion band that combines contemporary and traditional folk sounds from all regions of Pakistan.