FOR decades, many Jamaicans have associated Pakistan with great cricketers like Javed Miandad, Imran Khan, and Wasim Akram.

Now, reggae music is reportedly gaining popularity in the Muslim country.

KHALID… Pakistanis love music with a strong beat and drums and reggae appeals to them

Pakistani singer Annie Khalid, who recently worked with dancehall star Beenie Man on the song Boom Boom Daze, is part of the cultural change in her homeland.

“Pakistanis love music with a strong beat and drums and reggae appeals to them,” she told Splash.

Khalid says the link with Beenie Man happened early this year when her management sent a cut of Boom Boom Daze to his manager.

“They really liked it and said they would love to be on board. It was like a dream come true,” said the 26-year-old.

Khalid visited Jamaica in July to film the video for Boom Boom Daze. Her first visit to the country was an eye-opener.

“I especially loved the food and I love how everyone is always relaxed and laid-back. In many ways it reminds me of Pakistan; the weather is perfect.”

Annie Khalid was born Noor-ul-Ain in the city of Lahore, but moved to England when she was six-months-old and grew up in east London.

She returned to Pakistan at age 15, releasing her first song Mahiya three years later.

The Beenie Man collaboration has whetted Khalid’s appetite for Jamaican pop music. She says her next song is likely to be another crack at reggae.

“It has a reggae vibe and it’s a complete solo, so that one is going to be interesting.”