Come one, come all: Express Family Festival attracts thousands on its first day

The event was lauded for providing distraction from the city’s dire condition.

KARACHI:

The two-day Express Family Festival 2013 started on Saturday with hundreds of families flowing in to enjoy the ‘Mauj, Masti aur Maza’ (Spirit, Playfulness and Fun).

The festival, organised by the Express Media Group, was inaugurated by Karachi Metropolitan Corporation administrator Rauf Akhtar Farooqui. Throngs of citizens could be seen gathered outside the Karachi Expo Centre an hour before the launch of the event, an oblique reminder of the city’s dire need of quality recreational opportunities.

“The festival is like a breath of fresh air amidst all the disorder and frustration surrounding the city,” Farooqui said while talking to the media. “We need such positive efforts to offer citizens a channel to escape from these concerns, especially since a lack of entertainment plagues their lives.” The event’s chief attractions included a food court, play area, singing competitions, children’s games and lucky draws as well as a myriad of shopping stalls set up by national and multinational companies.



“I think the event provides a lot of fun for kids as constant trips to the same recreational spots have started to become mundane and this provides an excellent opportunity to break the banality,” remarked Umaima Kamal as she watched her daughters Filzah and Faiza pose for a snapshot with a mini-train. “There is an alarming dearth of facilities in this city that are both recreational and mentally stimulating for children.”

Fazal Malik, a resident of Malir who came to the event with his wife and kids, was just as impressed as Kamal. “My children read about the festival in The Daily Express newspaper and demanded that I bring them here,” he said when asked about his motivation to visit the festival. “It’s good to be here.” Malik’s children were queued at the crowded Colgate stall which was providing free dental check-up to visitors.

During the last couple of years, the annual festival has set new records in terms of participation and totals visitors in Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22^nd, 2013.