KARACHI: Pakistan’s entertainment industry gathered in Karachi on Thursday for a smaller, more intimate ceremony marking the cc, as artists reflected on the importance of recognition, evolving formats and broader inclusion across creative fields.

The awards, considered Pakistan’s longest running and most prestigious entertainment honors, were held at the Mohatta Palace, a departure from previous large-scale events at the Karachi Expo Center. 

Actress Sanam Saeed, who co-hosted the evening, described the ceremony as “small and intimate,” a tone echoed by several attendees.

The scaled-down format followed an unusual year for the awards. The 23rd Lux Style Awards, scheduled to take place in Lahore in May, were canceled amid the brief war between Pakistan and India, with winners announced digitally and trophies delivered to recipients’ homes.

Among the prominent stars attending this year’s ceremony were Fahad Mustafa, Hania Aamir, Mawra Hocane and Yumna Zaidi. Aamir, who won Actor of the Year – Female (Viewers’ Choice), for the hit television drama Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, said award platforms play a vital role in sustaining creative industries.

“It’s extremely important to appreciate the art that comes out of your country,” she told Arab News at the red carpet. The drama, she noted, resonated beyond Pakistan, trending in Bangladesh and India during its broadcast.

Addressing fans abroad, Aamir, arguably Pakistan’s most popular celebrity internationally, said:

“Thank you so much for loving beyond borders. We love you as much even more. So thank you so much for appreciating all the hard work that we do.”

She also called for broader recognition across productions. 

“I’d like Lux [Style Awards] and every other award show to have a lot more diverse categories to appreciate every single person who is a part of the team. [And] who actually makes the project come to life.”

The Lux Style Awards have long attracted debate over transparency and credibility, a recurring discussion whenever nominations and winners are announced. 

Still, many artists said the platform remains essential for motivation and visibility.

“Whenever we discuss the awards, no award will be fair because some people will have certain reservations with it,” producer Abdullah Seja of iDream Entertainment told Arab News. “These might be the most authentic awards in Pakistan [but] obviously there is room for improvement in everything.”

Reflecting shifts in Pakistan’s creative economy, the awards introduced a separate category this year for Digital Content Creators. The inaugural trophy went to real-life couple Rabya Kulsoom and Rehan Nazim, known online as ‘Ron and Cocco’.

“The credit goes to Lux [Style Awards] for introducing the category because content creation is not easy,” Nazim said. “Whoever is doing it, it’s a difficult job. And now it has become a full-time job. You can’t take it lightly and do it on the side. So, we need to recognize the people who are doing it.”

Actress Yumna Zaidi, who won her first film award for Nayab, described the ceremony’s return to Karachi as significant. 

“I am so glad that it’s happening in Karachi because it’s been a while,” she said, adding, “Lux [Style Awards] are the strongest because it includes nominations from all the channels and it’s the strongest [competition].”

Mawra Hocane, whose drama Jafaa was nominated for TV Play of the Year (Critics’ Choice), said meaningful storytelling mattered more than trophies. 

“Platforms [like these] are very very important but more than that what’s important is that a project strikes a chord with the audience,” she said.

“I do my projects so that we can work on the position of women in society. [And] somehow elevate them, somehow create some space for them. And I think ‘Jafaa’ has done that.”

Music remained a central draw of the evening. 

Co-host Sanam Saeed said she was particularly looking forward to live performances. 

“Music is the kind of genre that bonds people together and puts Pakistan on the map,” she said. 
“We become one when it comes to music, forgetting all the distance, limitations and borders. [And] Our music does that.”

Singer and songwriter Hasan Raheem, popular among younger audiences, also performed during the ceremony and reflected on the value of such platforms. 

“These [platforms] are important, honestly,” he said. “I feel like things like these should happen because the real present and the gift that I personally get is the love from people that is the epitome of all the awards. I can never get a better award than that.”