Rang Raas brings khawaja sira narratives to the Arts Council

A theatre and cultural production titled Rang Raas, presented by Gender Interactive Alliance (GIA), brought performance, storytelling, and music to the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi this May.

Directed by Muneera Batool and co-directed by Mehrub Awan, the evening was built as a professionally curated artistic work — not a conventional awareness seminar. The company used theatre and dialogue to hold identity, family, discrimination, love, survival, and resilience on a public stage.

Who was in the room

The cast included Lelia Kazmi, Bindiya Rana, Lucky Khan, Alina Khan, Dr. Sara Gill, and Rehan Akhtar. Organisers described a houseful house: audiences stayed, argued with what they had been taught, and left talking about khawaja sira people as artists and contributors to culture, not as a problem to be managed.

Rang Raas was also a community-support event. Proceeds went to the GIA Phoenix Fund, which helps transgender students stay in higher education — tuition, academic expenses, and the costs that decide whether someone can sit an exam.

The production remains pinned on our Instagram highlights. For press enquiries, email press@giapakistan.com.