“All we have left is hope,” actor-cum-fashion designer Yousuf Bashir Qureshi told Aaj News on Monday via telephone. “In the current situation of our country, if Pakistan performs anything, we should be proud of it.”

The three-day event aims to promote a deeper understanding between different peoples and backgrounds by showcasing the rich cultural traditions of dance, music, and arts from around the world.

Yousuf Bashir Qureshi, who is often referred to by his initials YBQ, would perform along with the team of choreographer Wahab Shah at the event on a Sufi poem written by him. He would be narrating the poem. Al Mustafa is the music producer.

When asked, YBQ shared that they would showcase Sufi colour and dance at the event as Pakistan was a land of Sufis.

“The performance is a story of love which would be presented by a group comprising 25 members,” he stated.

Choreographer Wahab Shah and his team would be wearing outfits designed by YBQ who said that the theme of the performance was red. “This is a story of love and the language of Qalandars [Yeh ek muhabbat ki kahani hai aur qalandaroon ki zaban hai].”

Sufis have always worn those colours – including black, red, green, and white – that have inspired people. The team would be dressed in red to signify love while Shah would represent hope by wearing an ivory-coloured dress.

This is not the first time that Pakistan has participated in this world fair. Earlier in 2016, Pakistan presented a thrilling performance in New Delhi, India in the third edition of the event.