‘More recreational facilities needed’

Music performances and horse dances appreciated the most.


Shamsul Islam January 22, 2012

FAISALABAD: A Children Mela was held in Iqbal Stadium on Sunday to raise awareness about the need for more recreational facilities for children.

The festival organised by the All Pakistan Private Schools Alliance (APPSA) was inaugurated by Faisalabad District Coordination Officer Nadeem Sadiq.

A musical band performance and horse dances were dedicated to the special children present at the festival.

Most children spent the day various taking rides set up at the festival. Kiran, an eighth grader, said taking rides had been her favourite activity at the event. “I am now going to ride a bicycle at the rent-a-bicycle facility,” she said.

Shumaila Naseem, a fifth grade student, said it was the first time she had come out with her family to attend a festival. “There aren’t a lot of recreational facilities for children in the city,” she said.

“Such festivals should be arranged at least twice a year”, said Naeem, another participant. Nadia Rafiq, a seventh grader in a school in Khurarianwala, said she liked the musical programme the most. She said while she was interested in singing she wasn’t very confident about her singing skills so she did not participate in the programme. “There are no institutes offering music classes,” she said. Rafiq said this was the first time she was visiting an outdoor event in Faisalabad. Besides the musical programme, Children presented patriotic songs, tableaus, skirts, traditional ghur and jhoomar dances.

DCO Naseem Sadiq said the government realised that outdoor activities in the city were very limited. He assured that he would continue coordination with the private education institutes to organise similar festivals in future.

Community Development Executive Director Asif Tarar, Faisalabad Arts Council Resident Director Ateeq Ahmad and Assistant Commissioner Zaheer Anwar also attended the festival.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd,  2012.

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