Pakistan's fashion week started with an opulent opening ceremony, against a backdrop of militant violence and security fears that delayed the event and kept away foreign glitterati. Models will sashay down catwalks, flaunting the latest creations by local designers in a country where most women cover up and observe varying degrees of Islamic dress.

The event's chief organiser, Ayesha Tammy Haq, said: ''We, the members of Fashion Pakistan, feel great to host this colourful event at difficult times of our history when the entire nation is waging a battle against militancy.''

A spokeswoman for Fashion Pakistan, Tehmina Khaled, said it would continue until Saturday. 'The situation was so painful in the country that we postponed it for three weeks,'' she said, referring to a spate of deadly attacks blamed on Taliban militants in which more than 340 people died.

''We have 32 designers from across the country who will participate in the event.''

Sonya Battla, the first designer to show, presented a collection that she said celebrated strong women.

She dismissed the fact that, in more conservative parts of the country, her designs might get women driven out of town or stoned to death.

''I'm a very brave woman,'' the 38-year-old designer said.

''I'm not going to be scared and no one's going to judge me.''