Pakistan participates in OIC golden jubilee celebrations

Pakistani folk artists captivated people in Jeddah during the golden jubilee celebrations of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation that began on November 26 and ended on Nov. 28, 2019. (AN Photo)
Updated 29 November 2019
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Pakistan participates in OIC golden jubilee celebrations

  • PM’s adviser on information and broadcasting represented the country in the inaugural session
  • Two Pakistani folk artists captivated the audience with their dance and performance

JEDDAH: Pakistan enthusiastically participated in the golden jubilee celebrations of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), said an official statement released by the country’s Consulate General in Jeddah on Friday.
Pakistani folk artists, Akhtar Chanal Zahri and Akbar Khamiso Khan, traveled to Saudi Arabia in connection with the celebrations and performed with musicians from other parts of the Muslim world.
The celebrations lasted for four days from November 25 to 28. The inaugural session was held on Monday in which Special Adviser to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan represented the country.
Later, from November 26 to 28, the celebrations were open for public, and a large number of people came to see the performances of folk artists from across the Muslim world.
On the last day of celebration, a large number of students from the Pakistan International School, Jeddah, attended the cultural evening along with their parents.




Pakistani folk artists captivated people in Jeddah during the golden jubilee celebrations of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation that began on November 26 and ended on Nov. 28, 2019. (AN Photo)

The Pakistani folk singers and musicians belonging to Balochistan and Sindh sported their traditional outfits and performed in front of a large audience who thoroughly enjoyed the performance.
The folk singers captivated the audience with their traditional music and dance.
The audience rose from their seats and danced to the tune of the folk songs and music. The Pakistani artists received a lot of appreciation from the audience.
Talking to Arab News, Akhtar Chanal said: “It was a great pleasure for me to perform in Saudi Arabia. It was my first performance here and I enjoyed it a lot.”
He added: “The Saudi-Pak relationship is growing stronger by the day.”
Children from school said they enjoyed the gathering as well, adding that the cultural program was quite informative and gave them a glimpse into the ethnic diversity of their country.


Cricket, travel, entertainment dominate Pakistan’s TikTok searches in 2025

Updated 13 sec ago
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Cricket, travel, entertainment dominate Pakistan’s TikTok searches in 2025

  • TikTok releases annual review of most searched items in Pakistan ranging from sports to movies and music
  • Pakistan cricketer Babar Azam’s century was the most searched moment on TikTok this year, reveals platform

ISLAMABAD: TikTok this week released its annual review of the most searched topics in Pakistan in 2025, with travel, food, sports and entertainment driving digital searches, the video platform said. 

In a press release, TikTok said its search patterns depicted that people use the platform as a “discovery tool for real life” where they explore destinations and find relatable guidance from influencers on various topics. 

“Whether it’s tracking the latest cricket moment, planning a weekend trip, learning something new, or checking reviews before buying, Pakistanis are turning to TikTok to make everyday decisions,” Umais Naveed, content operations lead South Asia at TikTok, said in a statement on Wednesday. 

According to TikTok, among places, the most searched were Islamabad, Altit Fort in Hunza, Chenab River and Pakistani cities of Lahore and Karachi. 

In the “Most Searched News and Moments” category, former Pakistan captain Babar Azam’s century against Sri Lanka dominated the searches, followed by Pakistan’s cricket matches against South Africa and Sri Lanka. “Floods” was also a popular search item in this category. 

“Jhol,” a Pakistani song by singers Maanu and Annural Khalid dominated the category of “Most Searched Soundtracks” while “Supreme” by Indian artist Shubh and “Pal Pal” by Afusic were also among the most searched songs this year. 

“Lava burger” and “Dubai Chocolate” were among the most searched food items this year on TikTok while Azam was the most searched sportsperson in the country, followed by Indian cricketer Abhishek Sharma. 

Alina Amir, Jannat Mirza, Khizar Umer and Kanwal Aftab were among the most searched TikTok creators in 2025 while Imran Ashraf, Fahad Mustafa and Mahira Khan were among the most searched celebrities on the social media platform. 

TikTok said searches linked to the hashtag #TravelTok increased by 53 percent this year while those with #FoodTok rose by 52 percent. Another popular hashtag #StudyTok searches were up by 60 percent while #FitnessTok recorded the largest jump of the year, growing by 66 percent year-on-year.

“TikTok remains committed to supporting a vibrant creative community in Pakistan and to making discoveries simpler, more joyful, and more meaningful for everyone who comes to TikTok to find their next inspiration,” the platform said.