After sportsmen, Lyari is all set to give scientists to the world

Several school students put up displays of the solar system, wind turbines.

KARACHI:

When thousands of Lyari residents gathered at Kakri Ground on Saturday, they wanted to do more than just have fun - they wanted to show Lyari is not only about violence.

On Saturday, the Lyari Resource Centre (LRC) organised the education fair in collaboration with the town administration. A large number of students from public and private schools, colleges and universities attended the fair that had more than 110 stalls.

This is the second time that LRC organised the grand fair - the first one was held on January 21, 2012, at the same venue when around 15,000 students along with their parents participated. This time, however, the numbers doubled. Even though, the festival started at 9am and continued till 6pm, the crowd stayed for most of the day.

At a stall for football fans, a student of class eight, Sanaullah Baloch, who lives in the Mola Mada area of Lyari, stood with his teachers and boasted of the numerous cups and medals he had received in school. “Despite meagre resources, we are trying to keep our ancestors’ favourite game alive,” he said.

Meanwhile, Headway Grammar School’s Muhammad Tariq was showing around visiting parents and students. He was trying to explain to them the difference between life in a village and a populated city, such as Karachi. Showing various models manufactured by the students, Tariq said that most visitors were interested in the concept. “We want to show our students how peaceful life is in the rural areas,” he said.

Pointing at the wind turbine, solar energy project and the solar system models, Khalilur Rehman Raeesi of KS Islamia Grammar School was hopeful that the students will prove that Lyari can not only produce world-class sportsmen, but also scientists.



Shabina Baloch, who was attending the fair with her two children, said that she had been walking around visiting different stalls since morning. “These are healthy activities and I hope such events will spread a good message about Lyari.”

Resident Abdul Ghafoor Memon also felt the same way. “Our children acquire education and invent unique items through their studies and that shows that a new Lyari is about to emerge,” he said.

Uzair Jan Baloch of the Peoples Amn Committee also came to the festival. “I want to see each of Lyari’s children become highly educated,” he told the crowd. “Only through education they can bring a change in their life and in Pakistan.”

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)Karachi division general secretary Najmi Alam, Sindh education minister’s coordinator Naveed Zubair, Lyari Development Authority director-general Aleem Lashari, town administrator Muhammad Raeesi, and others also attended the fair and appreciated the efforts that the students had put in.

“Education is the only way to progress,” said LRC chairperson Habib Hasan, who is also the vice-president of PPP Karachi division. “This event shows that Lyari is more than just a haven for criminals, as is normally portrayed,” he told The Express Tribune. “This is just the start. The children of Lyari will make a visible difference in the coming years, as long as they have access to such facilities.”

Hasan shared that the authorities wanted to introduce students of schools and colleges to the various opportunities present in Lyari.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 10^th, 2013.