ISLAMABAD The Lok Virsa -National Institute of Folk & Traditional Heritage, will launch a series of five folk music concerts to pay tribute to music icons one each from the Federal Capital, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Khalid Javaid, the Lok Virsa Executive Director, said this while talking to TheNation here on Friday. He said that the folk music concerts would be arranged during July to December this year. An initiative entitled Documentation of Genealogical Musical Families of Pakistan under the ongoing joint institutional cultural cooperation between Pakistan and Norway, funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been taken in this regard. The first live concert under this folk musical series is planned on 22 July 2010 at Lok Virsa Open Air Theatre. The concert will present three sons of legendary folk artist late Tufail Niazi - Babar Niazi, Javed Niazi and Shehanshah Niazi along with folk singer Qurban Niazi, the brother of Tufail Niazi. Federal Minister for Culture Pir Aftab Hussain Shah Jilani would be the chief guest on the show entitled as Concert with Niazi Brothers whereas well-known puppeteer and columnist Farooq Qaiser will conduct the show. Farooq Qaiser has spent many years in association with the Niazi family and known better the life and work of Niazis, the Lok Virsa Executive Director pleaded his case. Khalid Javaid while briefing about the objective said that said it was an effort of the Lok Virsa in collaboration with Norwegian donors to pay tribute to the great masters of Pakistani folk musical heritage and to encourage and support youngsters in their families to continue to practice the traditions inherited to them by their elders. This series of the programme will produce concerts of young promising singers and instrumentalists who have their own genealogical roots and recognition in the world of music, Khalid Javaid elaborated. He said the programme will document life, achievements and art of national artists whereas the young singers will also be encouraged to speak about their contribution. We are grateful to the Royal Norwegian Government, in particular their mission in Islamabad for their continued help and generous support for the documentation and promotion of Pakistani traditional culture, without their funding, it was not possible for Lok Virsa to initiate such an activity, he noted. Tufail Niazi is one of the greatest Pakistani folk singers. He achieved fame with his famous song 'sada chirian da chanbha aye. He has given many performances from PTV and Radio Pakistan. His voice was full of deep pathos. He excelled in describing bonds, which are unbreakable with his musical notes such as love of a daughter and father. He also had the honour of singing first song that aired on Pakistan Television (PTV). His other famous songs are laee beqadran naal yaari tay tut gai tarak kar kay, Mein nai jana kheriyan de nal and many more. Tufails sons Javaid Niazi and Babar Niazi are vocalists with deep roots in Pakistani music. They learnt art of music from their father who was a legend in Pakistan folk music and a student of Kapporthalla Gharana. They have received many national and international awards from Pakistan and abroad. Tufail Niazi as a folk singer also received the best of the best Saraswati Award from South India. Javaid and Babar started their career as music artists in 1981 when they performed alongside their father in India and received KL Sehgal Award for their best performance. Both have travelled extensively to different parts of the world including United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, the Middle East, India, China, North Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia.