PROVINCE REPORT
PESHAWAR: A theatre play titled “Sheh Rag” highlighting national unity, harmony, and brotherhood among the people of all four provinces of Pakistan was presented during the three-day Hunar Mela 2026 held at Nishtar Hall, Peshawar under the auspices of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Archaeology & Museums Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and supervised by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority.
The play was presented by Khalil Khan Academy of Art Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It was written by Pride of Performance award winner Ishrat Abbas and directed by Shehzad Khalil. The cast included Shazma Haleem, Yaseen Abbas, Javed Babar, Khaista Rehman, Zulfiqar Qureshi, and Ismail among others.
In addition, Syed Rehman Sheeno, Khalida Yasmeen, and fellow artists entertained the audience with comedy performances and humorous skits.
Foreign tourists from Russia and Italy also visited the Hunar Mela. On the occasion, Director Culture & Tourism Authority Halima Iqbal distributed souvenirs among the guests and accompanied them on a detailed visit of the festival.
Speaking on the occasion, the foreign guests appreciated the hospitality of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Peshawar. One of the visitors stated that he had been bringing Russian tourists to Peshawar and other parts of Pakistan for the past four years, which reflects the welcoming nature of the local people and the attraction of the province’s tourism and culture.
The festival attracted a large number of visitors, especially families, at the stalls set up by artisans from across the province, where handicrafts and traditional items were also witnessing strong sales.
Featured stalls included wax painting artist Riaz Ahmad, Hazara Phulkari embroidery, handicrafts, Charsadda Chappal, Hazara handicrafts, a Jail Department stall, women artisans’ products, and numerous traditional food stalls offering Chapli Kabab, Bannu Penda, Charsadda rice, sugarcane and jaggery drinks, ice cream, dahi bhallay, and other local delicacies.
More than 40 handicraft and traditional food stalls were displayed at the festival, showcasing the rich culture and heritage of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in a vibrant manner.
The festival also featured a dedicated children’s play area, a traditional Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Hujra, a Kalash pavilion, cultural and handicraft displays, an exhibition of photographs depicting the province’s tourist attractions, a tourist information desk, and documentaries highlighting various scenic destinations of the province.
