The first leg of the 2nd International Shaan-e-Pakistan Music Awards (SEPMA) ceremony was held at Poet’s Café.

The brainchild of musical impresario Huma Nassr, SEPMA 2020 emerged stronger from its pandemic lockdown by honouring musicians in 13 genres of music and three special mention awards.  The 78 nominees across 13 categories were feted on a balmy evening in Lahore. 

Several of music’s great names were in attendance and there was general bonhomie and euphoria at celebrating so much musical talent from across Pakistan.

The elegant White Carpet saw the nominees talking to media and expressing their hopes and desire to do even better work. Some of the nominees seen were: Mustafa Zahid who was nominated in the Best Rock Music category, Sahir Ali Bagga nominated for Best Composer, Syeda Hadiya Hashmi and Azan Ali Bagga who were nominated for the Best Child Music category, Zain Zohaib in the Best Sufi Music segment, Bayaan Band nominated in the Best Lyrics category (for the Song Bekhabar), Sajjad Ali’s daughter, Zaw Ali for the Best Pop Music category and the maestro himself Shafqat Amanat Ali who unveiled the trophy and was nominated in the Best Jingle category.

The evening started with the very well deserved Child Music category. The nominees were Azan Ali Bagga and Syeda Hadiya Hashmi and the first presenter Mian Yousuf Salahuddin Sahab presented the SEPMA Award to Syeda Hadiya Hashmi

Pakistani TV and Films are gaining in popularity every year and the Original Sound Track (OST) often become very successful. 

To give a boost to that budding industry the Best OST Category nominees were Sahir Ali Bagga, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Nabeel Shaukat Ali, Asrar, Shuja Haider and Shani Arshad. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan won the award for his song “Mere pas tum ho” in the category BEST OST MUSIC at the SEPMA 2020. 

The Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Lifetime Achievement Award was won by maestro Abida Parveen. The award was presented by Irfan Pardesi, the founder of Zee Foundation and a businessman from South Africa, at Abida Ji’s own residence. 

Atif Aslam got this honour for promoting the global recognition of Pakistan, Xulfi for promoting the young talent of Pakistan, while Meesha Shafi won for the Music Icon of the generation.