Pop music is rapidly taking over the Pakistani music scene, despite the moral brigade and diktats of the clergy. “Pop, along with soft rock, is growing in popularity. It has developed in a very short span of time and shows more promise than even Indian pop music,” claims Saadia, 19, a student of business studies. Most of the songs are in Urdu set to western music. There is a lot of talent coming here. Music experts say there are about 15 established music bands and a dozen pop music stars in Pakistan today.

A far cry, all agree, from the early 1980s, when during President Zia-ul-Haq’s regime, listening to or creating pop music was aggressively discouraged. However, after the Music ‘89 show, aired on the government-owned Pakistan Television (PTV), who was also the official sponsors, things appeared to change. At the show, 30-somethings danced to the music of the then pop idols - Nazia and Zoheb Hassan, Ali Azmat and bands like the Vital Signs.

Sheikha Mohammad Hamoud Alhamdi, a 21-year-old from UAE, who has married a local of Karak and considers Pakistanis loving and caring, is learning Pashto to share Arabic folktales and stories with her in-laws.

“I would love to settle in Karak with my husband and all of his family as I found the locals very loving and caring,” Ms Alhamdi, wife of Juma Raz Khan, told The News. The lady said she is learning local language to communicate with her in-laws and those who are frequently visiting their house to see and meet her.

“Its amazing. I was not expecting such love,” a delighted Sheikha said in broken English. She is sad over her separation from mother, brothers and sisters but at the same time happy to have Juma Raz as her life partner. “I am in touch with my sister. We have talked on telephone since I have left UAE,” Juma Raz translated her words in Pashto.