Pakistan Day: Children display talent at cultural gala

Over 3,000 students participated in the week-long event.

ISLAMABAD:

A week-long cultural festival to mark Pakistan Day organised by Pakistan Baitul Maal (PBM) concluded on Saturday.

Over 3,000 orphans from across the country participated in the concluding ceremony held at the Pakistan Sports Complex. In a week-long event, there were multiple activities including a cultural show, tableau and various games.

“It’s a wonderful experience to take part in this week-long event and this is the best platform to express our talent before a huge gathering,” said Talha Hashmi, a participants who had come from Gujranwala.

Due to the rain, the children could not perform properly and were later shifted to Liaquat Gymnasium where the remaining performances were held.

“I’m happy to take part in this activity. It was my dream to perform here on this day and finally it has come true,” said Hashim, a participant.

Anum Zeba, a schoolteacher from Rawalpindi said students had prepared for a month for the week long event. “The students will definitely get encouragement from such activities’’ she added.

Pop singers Faakhir Mehmood and Rabi Pirzada enthralled the audience with some of their more popular songs.

“It’s really amazing and the first time in my life that I watched them perform live,” said Gibran Hussain.



At the concluding ceremony, Chief guest Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed appreciated the children’s performance. He said these children were assets for the country and they must be supported.

PBM Chairman Zumrad Khan said the basic objective of the event was to provide an opportunity to the children to express their talent.

Earlier in the morning hundreds of students in traditional dresses marched on Parade Avenue to mark the celebration of Pakistan Day. They also sang national songs.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2013.