Veteran Pakistani Qawwali singer Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and his son Shahzaman Khan were officially honoured at the Houses of Parliament in the United Kingdom during a ceremony highlighting cultural diplomacy and South Asian musical exchange. The event, organised by British‑Asian artist Raja Kaasheff, recognised the duo’s contributions to music and their role in connecting audiences across South Asia and the diaspora.
A central feature of the gathering was the unveiling of a cross‑border Bangla duet titled “Prem Piyasha – Reloaded (Thirst for Love)”, a collaborative project involving artists from Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and the UK. The song, which pairs Rahat with Bangladeshi singer Rubayat Jahan, combines elements of classical Qawwali with modern romantic composition. The lyrics were written by Kabir Bakul, arranged and composed by Raja Kaasheff, and directed by Saikat Reza; it was released under Dhruba Music Station as a symbolic cultural bridge among South Asian communities.
The ceremony was attended by British lawmakers and community leaders, including MPs, Lords and prominent figures from across the UK’s South Asian diaspora. Speakers at the event described the collaboration as emblematic of shared heritage that transcends national boundaries. Lord Tariq Ahmad highlighted Rahat’s enduring impact on South Asian and global music, noting the continuation of the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s legacy through Rahat and his son.
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, who has recently performed to a sold‑out audience at London’s Royal Albert Hall and is scheduled for further appearances this week, thanked organisers and parliamentarians for the recognition. He described the honour as a tribute not only to his own career but to the wider tradition of Sufi Qawwali and Urdu musical heritage in the international arena.