Adams Rocks For Relief

Bryan Adams‘ January 29th benefit concert for Pakistan was billed as the first major western pop concert in the country since 9/11.

An earthquake in the region last year killed an estimated 87,000 and left millions homeless. Proceeds of the concert will go toward rebuilding damaged schools.

Adams arrived in Karachi, Pakistan’s biggest city, just days after the U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory for the country over terrorism concerns.

Despite the advisory, one Pakistani official said the concert was a sign that the country is on the verge of a cultural revival.

“Adams’s arrival and performance in Karachi is definitely a healthy cultural change and it signifies that moderate people are coming up in our society day by day,” Pakistani Information Minister Sheikh Rashid told Agence France-Presse.

Sponsors said they sold 22,000 tickets at prices between $58 and $83.

“We’re going to raise a lot of money to hopefully help rebuild some schools in the area that have been devastated,” Adams said before the concert.

Also performing at the benefit concert was Pakistani pop star Shehzad Roy.