Karachi is home to some of Pakistan's important cultural institutions. The
National Academy of Performing Arts, located in the newly renovated Hindu
Gymkhana, offers a two-year diploma course in performing arts that includes
classical music and contemporary theatre. The All Pakistan Music Conference,
linked to the 45-year-old similar institution in Lahore, has been holding its
annual music festival since its inception in 2004. The National Arts Council (Koocha-e-Saqafat) has musical
performances and mushaira (poetry recitations). The Kara Film Festival annually
