Learn who we are and why we exist. Discover our mission, vision, and the people driving our work to preserve and promote Pashto music.
The Pashto Music Institute (PMI), a nonprofit incorporated in Texas, United States, is dedicated to preserving, revitalizing, and promoting Pashto music. We bring together artists, scholars, and communities to celebrate cultural heritage, support creative innovation, and shape a vibrant musical future.
Pashto music is at a crossroads—threatened by fading traditions, shrinking resources, and growing cultural restrictions. Without urgent action, this rich heritage could vanish. Here’s why our work matters.
Pashto music is a living expression of our heritage. We exist to protect its traditional styles, instruments, and stories from fading into silence amid modern pressures.
New generations of artists lack training, exposure, and platforms. We create space for them to grow, innovate, and carry the legacy of Pashto music forward with pride.
In many regions, music faces bans and stigma. We stand for artistic freedom, offering a safe, respectful environment for creativity and performance without fear or censorship.
Pashto music has no dedicated institution for its preservation or advancement. We fill this critical gap with structure, vision, and long-term commitmen
We are more than a music initiative — we are building a full ecosystem that supports research, education, production, community building, and international
To preserve, innovate, and promote Pashto music by supporting research, education, production, and cultural exchange—empowering artists and communities to keep the music alive across generations and borders.
Pashto music is a dynamic cultural force, fostering unity, prosperity, and global recognition.
Our strategic goals chart a clear path for impactful action—shaping the future of Pashto music through education, innovation, and global engagement.
Offer humanitarian assistance to struggling musicians.
Use research and digital archiving to safeguard traditional knowledge.
Deliver structured training for aspiring musicians and composers.
Facilitate new music creation through top-tier production support.
Foster partnerships and host festivals, workshops, and public programs.
Our values guide our mission and shape how we work—with integrity, purpose, and commitment to Pashto music.
We uphold the highest standards in everything we do—from research and education to performance and community impact.
We foster inclusive partnerships and cross-cultural teamwork across institutions, generations, and geographies.
We honor the roots, traditions, and meaning of Pashto music while engaging respectfully with diverse communities.
We believe in enabling artists, learners, and cultural workers to lead change and thrive creatively.
We embrace creative thinking and new methods to revitalize and evolve Pashto music in modern contexts.
PMI is led by a passionate team of artists, scholars, and cultural workers dedicated to Pashto music’s future. Our leadership ensures vision, integrity, and community connection.
Chairman
Haroon Bacha is a renowned Pashtun singer and composer, with more than 50 audio albums to his credit. In addition to his musical career, Bacha has been working as a journalist with Radio
Board Member
Mushtaq Rahim is a peace and international development expert with extensive experience in program design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation, with a strong background in social research. He has worked in Afghanistan and
Advisor
Ziauddin Yousafzai is a Co-Founder and board member of Malala Fund. He is the father of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Malala Yousafzai. He served as a teacher and school administrator in his home
Advisor
Samar Minallah Khan is a renowned Pashtun anthropologist and award-winning filmmaker with an MPhil from Cambridge. She promotes gender justice and cultural heritage through documentaries and folk song videos. Her accolades include the
Advisor
Enayatullah Safi is a Danish-Afghan entrepreneur, chef, and founder of Dhaba Kitchen. Arriving in Denmark in 2001 as a refugee from Afghanistan, he later earned a master’s degree in political science from the
Advisor
Mujeeb Rehman is a seasoned multimedia journalist based in Washington, D.C., bringing over two decades of experience to his role as an editor. Originally from Charsadda, Pakistan, Mujeeb has built a distinguished career
Chairman
Haroon Bacha is a renowned Pashtun singer and composer, with more than 50 audio albums to his credit. In addition to his musical career, Bacha has been working as a journalist with Radio
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PMI marks a turning point in the resurgence of Pashto art. Join us in transforming music into a unifying cultural force across borders and generations.
