Brushstrokes on a budget: How Islamabad Sunday Bazaar stall became thriving art academy

Brushstrokes on a budget: How Islamabad Sunday Bazaar stall became thriving art academy
Azhar Qureshi (left) instructs his student in his makeshift art school, Knowledge Art Academy, in Islamabad's Sunday Bazaar on May 30, 2025. (AN Photo)
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Updated 09 June 2025
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Brushstrokes on a budget: How Islamabad Sunday Bazaar stall became thriving art academy

Brushstrokes on a budget: How Islamabad Sunday Bazaar stall became thriving art academy
  • Husband and wife Azhar and Shagufta Qureshi run Knowledge Art Academy from Itwar Bazaar stall 
  • Students at the school range from ages 5 to 81 and can get classes for nominal three-month fee of $12

ISLAMABAD: Several works of Islamic calligraphy, landscape art and whirling dervish paintings hung on the walls of the stall while around a dozen students sat bent over canvases while husband and wife duo Azhar Qureshi and Shagufta watched over them.

The scene is from the Knowledge Art Academy, located in a quiet corner between a long row of stalls at Islamabad’s Sunday, or Itwar, Bazaar, a popular spot for the capital city’s middle classes who come for the affordable shopping and to buy used and cheap items. 

Here, nestled between toys, crockery and ceramics kiosks, the Knowledge Art Academy, a tin roof supported by wooden sticks, offers art classes at the affordable price of around $12 for three months of lessons. 

The teachers are Shagufta and Qureshi, who has a fine arts diploma from Lahore, and has been running the academy for the past 14 years, offering an attractive alternative to pricey art schools in Islamabad.

“Our aim was to start this so that people who are interested in art can easily join our classes,” Shagufta told Arab News at the stall. “Our fee is also very reasonable. Art is a very expensive hobby which not everyone can afford. Since people from all backgrounds come here, that’s why we opted to arrange our setup here.”




Azhar Qureshi (left) poses for Arab News in his art school, Knowledge Art Academy, in Islamabad's Sunday bazaar on May 30, 2025. (AN Photo) 

The academy has students ranging from age five to those in their eighties.

“I was interested in learning how to paint,” Zamad Ahmed, a second year intermediate student who attends the academy with his 15-year-old sister Fatima, told Arab News. “But due to affordability I never learned it. But after my mother stumbled upon this place, I knew I had to attend it.”

Another student is Abdul Bari, an 81-year-old retired bank manager, who visits the academy weekly to pursue his passion for Islamic calligraphy.

“After retiring as a bank manager and marrying off my kids, I have been coming here for a year-and-a-half to learn from the maestro himself,” Bari said. 

“It has been 1.5 to 2 years that I have come here to learn. I am retired so I come here to spend time, and by the grace of Allah, I have learned a lot from here also.”

“HEALTHY ACTIVITY”

Art schools in Pakistan, particularly those offering undergraduate programs, can be quite expensive, with some institutions charging upwards of $2,500 per year for tuition alone. The National College of Arts (NCA) is a notable example of a public university that offers art programs and has relatively high tuition fees. Other expenses, such as accommodation and transportation, can further contribute to the overall cost of attending art school in Pakistan. 

This attracts many to the low-cost Knowledge Art Academy. 




Azhar Qureshi (left) poses for Arab News in his art school, Knowledge Art Academy, in Islamabad's Sunday bazaar on May 30, 2025. (AN Photo) 

A middle-aged corporate professional who only identified himself by his first name Ijaz said he had admitted his three daughters to the academy so they could do something “productive” during their summer vacations at an affordable price. 

“We have come to generate healthy activities for them,” he said. “Rather than sitting at home and wasting time on gadgets, on mobile or watching movies. I just want to generate some healthy activity so that they can learn something.”

While Qureshi said he had received various offers from prestigious art schools and institutions, he was committed to remain focused on his humble setup.

“I’ve even been told to move to a proper building or classroom and teach from there,” Qureshi said. “But that would increase the fees and affect my students who come here to follow their passion. I don’t want to disturb them.”

And his dedication has borne fruit, with several of his students pursuing fine arts formally while others have become art teachers and freelance artists.
 
Rabiya Noureen, 34, who learnt to paint at the Knowledge Art Academy, now runs her own classes. 

“I learned painting from here and now have my own academy,” she said. “Now, my students even take commissioned painting work and earn money.”


Pakistan, US hold new round of trade talks amid tariff tensions, eye wider cooperation

Pakistan, US hold new round of trade talks amid tariff tensions, eye wider cooperation
Updated 18 July 2025
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Pakistan, US hold new round of trade talks amid tariff tensions, eye wider cooperation

Pakistan, US hold new round of trade talks amid tariff tensions, eye wider cooperation
  • Pakistan’s finance chief, US officials discuss trade in traditional and non-traditional sectors
  • Finance ministry says both sides optimistic ongoing trade talks will yield positive outcomes

KARACHI: Pakistan and the United States explored ways to broaden their trade partnership beyond textiles, a statement released in Islamabad said on Friday, as their officials held high-level talks in Washington to finalize a trade deal and address recently imposed US tariffs.

The meeting between Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer followed a virtual discussion between Aurangzeb and Lutnick last month, during which both sides agreed to push negotiations forward “at the earliest.”

The talks come after the US imposed a 29 percent “reciprocal tariff” on Pakistani exports under President Donald Trump’s trade measures announced in April, a move Islamabad said could undercut its fragile, export-led recovery.

“Finance Minister Aurangzeb emphasized that the US remains Pakistan’s largest trading partner and underscored Pakistan’s interest in expanding cooperation in both traditional and non-traditional sectors, including the IT & tech sector, minerals and agriculture, to foster a mutually beneficial relationship,” Pakistan’s finance ministry said in a statement.

It added officials from both countries were pleased with the progress made so far in deepening trade and economic relations, which they described as a key pillar of the broader Pakistan-US partnership.

They reaffirmed their shared commitment to finding new ways to strengthen cooperation across all areas where both countries stand to benefit.

Nearly 90 percent of Pakistan’s exports to the US are textiles, a sector that is most vulnerable to the duties.

The US is Pakistan’s top export destination, with shipments totaling $5.44 billion in FY2024. From July 2024 to February 2025, exports rose 10 percent compared to the same period a year earlier.

Pakistan is also seeking to diversify its trade destinations and export base to mitigate risks related to its international trade.

“Both parties expressed optimism that ongoing trade talks would yield positive outcomes, benefiting the economies of both countries,” the ministry said in its statement.


Spotify names Pakistani artist Afusic to Radar program 

Spotify names Pakistani artist Afusic to Radar program 
Updated 18 July 2025
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Spotify names Pakistani artist Afusic to Radar program 

Spotify names Pakistani artist Afusic to Radar program 
  • Breakout single ‘Pal Pal’ tops 64 million streams as artist’s listenership surges
  • Spotify says Afusic’s audience has grown over 1,200 percent since April 2025

ISLAMABAD: Spotify has named rising Pakistani musician Afusic as its featured artist for the third quarter of 2025 under its global Radar program, spotlighting the viral star’s rapid ascent in the country’s evolving music scene.

Afusic — the stage name of Affan Khan — gained widespread recognition this year after his single “Pal Pal” went viral on the platform, amassing over 64 million streams. The song’s success has placed him among a new wave of artists reshaping Pakistan’s independent music landscape.

As the Pakistani music industry undergoes a digital transformation, platforms like Spotify have played a key role in spotlighting emerging talent and connecting local voices with global audiences.

“Spotify’s Radar Pakistan returns this quarter, spotlighting Afusic as its latest featured artist,” Pakistani agency Asiatic Public Relations said in a statement on Friday. “This milestone marks a significant moment in his rapidly rising career with his viral track ‘Pal Pal’ being featured on the Radar Pakistan playlist.”

According to Spotify data shared by the agency, Afusic’s audience has surged by more than 1,200 percent since April 2025, with his music landing on nearly 270,000 playlists globally.

Streams have spiked over 440,000 percent since the song debuted in the platform’s Fresh Finds Pakistan playlist in February.

“In the past 28 days alone, the demographic breakdown of his global audience reveals a strong connection with younger listeners — 60 percent male and 40 percent female — led by the 18–24 age group, followed closely by 25–34-year-olds,” the statement said.

Afusic called the Radar selection a “huge moment.”

“Radar is an incredible platform that shines a light on independent artists and helps us reach new audiences, while also giving fans a chance to connect with who we are beyond the music,” he said. “I’m truly grateful for the support Spotify has shown me — watching ‘Pal Pal’ grow from Fresh Finds to Hot Hits Pakistan shows just how powerful this journey can be.”

Afusic joins past Radar Pakistan alumni including Hasan Raheem, Taha G, Shae Gill, and Rovalio, all of whom have gained both domestic and international acclaim in recent years.


Police say no toxins detected in Pakistani actress Humaira Asghar Ali’s body

Police say no toxins detected in Pakistani actress Humaira Asghar Ali’s body
Updated 18 July 2025
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Police say no toxins detected in Pakistani actress Humaira Asghar Ali’s body

Police say no toxins detected in Pakistani actress Humaira Asghar Ali’s body
  • Ali’s decomposed body was found in her apartment on July 8, nearly nine months after her death
  • Police say while it appears to be a natural death, the possibility of murder has not been ruled out

KARACHI: Pakistani police said on Friday no toxic substances were found in the body of Humaira Asghar Ali, a 42-year-old actress whose remains were discovered in Karachi last week, nine months after her death.

Ali, originally from Lahore, had been living alone in a rented apartment in Karachi’s Ittehad Commercial area for nearly seven years while pursuing an acting career.

Her decomposed body was discovered on July 8 when a court-appointed bailiff broke into her apartment to vacate the property over unpaid rent.

“The chemical report confirms that no sedative, psychotic, narcotic or poisonous substance was detected in the samples,” said Mahroz Ali, Senior Superintendent of Police, citing findings by the Industrial Analytical Center at the University of Karachi’s HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry.

The forensic analysis included tests on hair, lung and liver samples, and found no evidence of foul play from toxic substances.

According to Deputy Inspector General of Police, Syed Asad Raza, police believe Ali died sometime between the evening of October 7 and 8, 2024.

Speaking in an interview with Arab News last week, Raza said the considerable delay in discovering the body has complicated the investigation.

“We are pursuing four possibilities: natural death, accidental death, suicide or homicide,” Raza said. “At present, natural or accidental death appears more likely based on the available evidence.”

The room where the body was found served as both a painting studio and a passage to the washroom.

Raza noted Ali may have slipped and fallen while doing laundry.

A tub filled with washed clothes was discovered in the washroom, suggesting she may have been in the process of household chores at the time of the incident, though there was no blood around her.

“There were no fractured bones, no signs of bleeding and no evidence of a physical struggle,” Raza said. “Typically, in cases of foul play, there are signs of resistance, but we didn’t find any.”

Despite the absence of overt signs of foul play, Raza said investigators are not ruling out any possibilities, including third-party involvement.

“It’s a remote possibility, but we are continuing to investigate that angle,” he said.

Police have collected and sent digital devices found at the scene, including mobile phones and tablets, for forensic analysis, he added.


Pakistan says Kashmir tourist attack probe ‘inconclusive’ as US blacklists militant group

Pakistan says Kashmir tourist attack probe ‘inconclusive’ as US blacklists militant group
Updated 18 July 2025
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Pakistan says Kashmir tourist attack probe ‘inconclusive’ as US blacklists militant group

Pakistan says Kashmir tourist attack probe ‘inconclusive’ as US blacklists militant group
  • US designated The Resistance Front a ‘terrorist organization’ for briefly claiming responsibility for Pahalgam attack
  • Islamabad says New Delhi has ‘a track record of exploiting such designations to push anti-Pakistan propaganda’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Friday a probe into the April killing of 26 tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir remained inconclusive, hours after the United States designated a Lashkar-e-Taiba-affiliated group as a terrorist entity, and accused India of using such listings to spread an anti-Pakistan narrative internationally.

The group in question, The Resistance Front (TRF), also known as Kashmir Resistance, was blacklisted by Washington on Thursday as a “foreign terrorist organization” and “specially designated global terrorist” in connection with the April 22 attack in Pahalgam.

In a statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the group had claimed responsibility for the assault before withdrawing its statement, and described TRF as a “front and proxy” of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based outfit banned under US law.

Responding to the development, Pakistan’s foreign office said it had “zero tolerance” for militant entities, though any link between TRF and Lashkar-e-Taiba “belies ground realities,” noting the latter was a defunct group that had been banned in Pakistan.

“Investigations into the Pahalgam incident, that happened in the internationally recognized disputed region of IIOJK, are still inconclusive,” the statement read, using Pakistan’s official abbreviation for Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

“Pakistan has effectively and comprehensively dismantled concerned outfits, arrested and prosecuted the leadership, and deradicalized its cadres,” it continued.

The foreign office also said India had a track record of leveraging such terror listings to deflect global scrutiny from its human rights record in Kashmir and elsewhere.

“India has a track record of exploiting such designations to push anti-Pakistan propaganda with a view to divert international attention from its irresponsible and rogue behavior, including ongoing human rights atrocities, especially in IIOJK,” the statement said.

Pakistan cited its cooperation with international partners against extremist groups and the arrest of high-profile militants, including Sharifullah, the alleged mastermind of the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul that killed 13 US service members and about 170 Afghan civilians.

In April, after India blamed Pakistan for the Pahalgam attack, Islamabad called for a neutral and impartial investigation.

The attack triggered days of cross-border hostilities, with India targeting what it described as “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan on May 7. The escalation — involving missiles, drones and artillery — left dozens dead before a ceasefire was announced on May 10.

The foreign office said Pakistan urged the international community to adopt “objective and non-discriminatory policies” on counterterrorism and called for other groups, such as the Majeed Brigade of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), to be designated under US law.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused the BLA and other separatist groups operating in the volatile southwestern province of Balochistan of being Indian proxies, a claim New Delhi denies.

With input from Reuters


Pakistan and Libya to expand defense industrial collaboration after top military meeting

Pakistan and Libya to expand defense industrial collaboration after top military meeting
Updated 18 July 2025
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Pakistan and Libya to expand defense industrial collaboration after top military meeting

Pakistan and Libya to expand defense industrial collaboration after top military meeting
  • The understanding comes during the Libyan armed forces commander-in-chief’s visit to Pakistan
  • Defense ties between both countries remain robust with Pakistan training Libyan military officers

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Libya have agreed to pursue defense industrial collaboration and exchange technical expertise to tackle security challenges, according to an official statement issued on Friday after a meeting between the top army commanders of the two countries.

The meeting took place in Rawalpindi between Libyan Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Lt Gen Saddam Khalifa Haftar and Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to the military media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Defense ties between the two countries date back to the Cold War era, when Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi famously called Pakistan “the fort of Islam” at the 1974 Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Lahore and later supported its arms procurement efforts.

In the post-Qaddafi period, the two nations signed a series of memoranda of understanding focused on labor, education and political consultations, laying the groundwork for broader cooperation.

“Meeting encompassed discussion on matters of mutual interest, evolving regional dynamics, security challenges and matters pertaining to defense cooperation,” the ISPR said in a statement after the meeting.

“Both leaders agreed to undertake defense industrial collaboration and exchange of technical expertise to address contemporary security challenges.”

Haftar was presented a guard of honor by a Pakistan Army contingent upon his arrival at the General Headquarters, where he laid a floral wreath at the Martyrs’ Corner.

The ISPR statement maintained the visit by Libya’s top military leadership marks a significant step in reinforcing the longstanding defense partnership between both countries.

Pakistan and Libya established diplomatic relations in 1951 and have maintained friendly ties rooted in shared Islamic heritage and cultural bonds.

Bilateral trade reached approximately $19 million in 2022–23, while defense ties remain robust, with Pakistan having trained Libyan officers in aviation, infantry and technical fields in the past.