Bryan Adams in Pakistan for quake relief gig

Canadian rock star Bryan Adams performs during a concert for Pakistan earthquake victims in Karachi last night. Pictures / Reuters

KARACHI - Canadian rocker Bryan Adams thrilled 10,000 fans at a concert in Karachi overnight, the first big show by a Western singer in Pakistan in decades, to help students affected by country's October 8 earthquake.

Adams, who performed most of his hits and moved the audience with Summer of '69, said he was glad to discover new fans in Pakistan.

"I am here because this city has a special love for music," the singer greeted his fans at the Arabian Sea Club on the outskirts of Karachi, as hundreds of Pakistani police guarded roads and checked vehicles leading to the venue.

The Canadian rocker said before the show that he was excited to help the victims of the earthquake in northern Pakistan.

"The whole idea of coming to Pakistan is very exciting on many levels ... we are the first Western artists to come and play a big concert here," he singer told a news conference.

"We are going to raise a lot of money hopefully to help rebuild some schools in the areas that have been devastated."

Over 17,000 of the more than 73,000 killed in the quake were children who died in schools destroyed in the quake. About 3 million people were left homeless by the disaster.

The organiser of the concert, the Zindagi Trust of Pakistan, hopes to raise 20 million rupees ($50,000) through the concert.

Adams, who will meet President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in Islamabad today, said he had no worries about coming to Pakistan.

Hardline Islamists oppose Western influences in Pakistan, especially rock music, dress and movies, which they consider immoral influences counter to Islam.

- REUTERS