She is conferred prestigious award at US Congress event for her contributions to music, cultural advocacy
KARACHI:
Internationally acclaimed Pakistani Sufi opera singer Saira Peter has been honoured at the “She Leads the Nations” Global Summit, held at the United States Congress in Washington DC, in recognition of her contributions to music and cultural advocacy.
The global summit brought together women leaders, experts and prominent personalities from across the world, including the United States, representing fields such as government, media, business, education, health, defence and culture. The initiative was founded by Liz Doyle as an international extension of the She Leads America movement, launched in 2021, with the aim of recognising women making significant contributions in their respective fields.
During the ceremony, 14 women leaders from around the world were presented awards acknowledging their leadership, service and global impact.
Saira Peter, widely regarded as Pakistan’s first Sufi opera singer, said it was an honour to be invited to perform at the US Congress and to receive the She Leads the Nations Award. She performed at the opening ceremony of the summit, describing the recognition at such a historic venue as a moment she would always cherish.
She also revealed that she was invited for a special visit by the US State Department, where she was hosted by Belis Romero from the Office of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. Peter said she felt proud representing Pakistani culture, posing for photographs in traditional attire in front of the Pakistani flag.
Before presenting the award, organisers acknowledged her efforts in introducing the Sufi message of peace and harmony, inspired by the poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, to international audiences through music. Her work in promoting the fusion of Sufi traditions with operatic performance and mentoring young women artists was also highlighted.
Receiving the award, Peter said she aimed to use Sufi music to spread hope and dignity among underprivileged women and children.
The audience at the event warmly applauded her performance. Peter currently serves as Director of NJ Arts London and is the founder of the Saira Arts Academy in Lahore, where she trains young women in opera singing.
During the opening ceremony at the US Congress, she performed the opera aria “I Know That My Redeemer Liveth,” dedicating it to oppressed women around the world.
Peter has given solo western classical performances in the UK, USA, Germany, Turkey and Pakistan.
Her 2016 Pakistan debut took place at Pearl-Continental Hotel in Karachi, followed since by performances at major national venues including Mohatta Palace, Aiwan-e-Sadr (Presidential Palace, Islamabad), Governor House in Karachi, Alhamra Art Center in Lahore, Pakistan National Council of Arts (Islamabad and Lahore). She is regularly invited by the High Commission of Pakistan, London to sing at official events, which they feature on official social media.
Peter was final judge and then chief judge on two consecutive seasons of Pakistan’s reality series Voice of Sindh.
In September 2021 she performed a solo set at the international Mystic Music Festival in Konya, Turkey in commemoration of the birth of Sufi poet Mevlana Rumi. With the support of Department of Culture, Konya, Peter created a “fusion qawwali” based on the poetry of Mevlana Rumi, featuring footage at the shrine of Mevlana Rumi in Konya.
In November 2025, Saira Peter performed in Islamabad at the Sir Syed Memorial Auditorium under the auspices of the Silk Road Culture Centre. The concert drew an audience of music enthusiasts and cultural patrons, and former federal culture minister Jamal Shah attended as chief guest, commenting on her contribution to promoting opera and fusion music in Pakistan.