Houstonians Get Enthralled: The Pakistan Show
By Vanshika Vipin
STAFFORD: The Pakistan Show was back this year in its 2nd edition for an outstanding 5-day exhibition at the Stafford Center. The event was held from June 2 to 6, and was organized by Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce & Industry and managed by Pakistan World Trade & Expo Centre, with the support of Handicrafts Association of Pakistan. The grand opening ceremony was held on Thursday, June 2, and it was attended by Congressman Al Green, Consul General of Pakistan and President of Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce. The cultural patterns of Pakistan speak of their rich heritage and traditions. The Pakistan show has been a sequel of Pakistani exhibitions being organized since 2007, across the globe in countries such as India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Mauritius and UK. The first edition of The Pakistan Show had bowled over Houstonians last year. Such was the smashing success of this event that the city was really looking forward to the event, this year.
The Pakistan Show is not only an exclusive exhibition of Pakistani products but also a mix of cultural showcase that Pakistan is endowed with. Although traditions have changed over the thousands of years and since the beginning of time, jewelry remains an integral part of Pakistan’s religious, regional, and social life. The event witnessed a host of 68 exhibitors across various genres including jewelry and handicrafts. Needless to mention, these stalls were packed with people who were seen discussing personal adornment, amidst the gorgeous collection of clothes and charismatic pieces of jewelry.
More spark was added to this event with the Indus Couture Fashion Show, where fashion models from Houston dazzled the ramp with some outstanding and marvelous classic collections featuring modern, traditional and contemporary outfits for women. Ruchika Dias from Bollywood Shake organized the fashion show, and it showcased some top-notch brands like Lala’s Textiles, Fashion Factory by AmnaFarhan, Shirts & Style by Asif, Nobeen Durrani’s Traditional Outfits, Meer Designer by Shahzia Fahed and Shireen’s collections. The models left the trail blazing with trendy, stylish and attractive Pakistani style kurtas, suits, lahengas and bridal wear.
This extravaganza was extended over a period of two days to accommodate the pouring crowd, Friday June 3 at 7:00 pm and Sunday June 5 at 5:00 pm. Raza Hasan graced the fashion show with his superlative choreography and Deco Art made the venue look beautiful. A spectacular musical program thrilled and entertained the crowd, as a live performance from Nadeem Ashrafi’s band was being played.
It wasn’t only the glam quotient that shook up this event. Several forerunners in the real estate space also participated in this event. Amidst all the glamour and the traditional quotient, consumers from around the world were presented with best options for investment and leading insight into the market trends.
In an exclusive conversation with IAN, Fahad Barlas, Director of Pak World Trade & Expo Centre said, “Houston surely doesn’t let us feel away from home! It proves to be a city with big Heart! We are happy with the turn out and we look forward to our event next year.”
That is such a true statement for Houston and with the cultural prowess and the legacy of diverse cultural heritage that Pakistan has to offer, Houstonians would be looking forward to many more of such exciting events.
More about The Pakistan Show:
The Pakistan show not only attracts the Pakistan community living abroad, but also other similar communities like Indians & Bangladeshis, which have a common string of cultural flavors sewn between them. The objective of this show is to bring to the palette the vast richness that the country has to offer through its products and services.
Behind the Scenes: They say, people behind the scenes are directly associated with the success of an event. True that. The Pakistan Show is honored to be backed by some of the highly experienced and talented members mentioned below:
Mian Humayun Pervez (President, Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce & industry)
M. Khurshid Barlas (President, Handicrafts Association of Pakistan, Chairman, Inter regional Trade Committee at Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce & Industry)
Fahad Barlas (Director, Pak World Trade & Expo Centre)
The next edition of The Pakistan Show will be held in Dallas between August 19 to 22, at Embassy suits by Hilton in Frisco. With the huge success of this event and the massive participation and registrations, the organizers anticipate the next event to be extravagant and majestic. Stay tuned for more information.