Karachi Commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui awarded certificates to teachers of ‘Aao Parhao’ campaign. PHOTO: AYSHA SALEEM/EXPRESS
Mauj, Masti aur Maza with your family is the main aim behind the Express Family Festival 2015, with ultimate shopping, endless festivities and a lot more for kids.
The two-day festival at Expo Centre Karachi, organised by the Express Media Group, was inaugurated by Karachi commissioner, Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui on Saturday.
“I would attribute this festival to the positive change in the city’s law and order situation,” said Siddiqui while expressing how he characterises such festivals.
“We as stakeholders are trying to make the city a safer place and such activities which merge your family at one platform to enjoy are positive steps towards having peace in the city,” he added.
Siddiqui visited several stalls in all three halls of the centre which included the real marketing section, entrepreneurs’ stalls and different games set up for children. He also interacted with stall owners and motivated people to visit the festival to have a memorable weekend with their families.
Distributing certificates among the teachers of ‘Aao Parhao’ campaign, Siddiqui showed his appreciation for the role of teachers in building up a nation. “It’s a good initiative and a very well organized campaign,” he added while receiving a token of appreciation from the ‘Aao Parhao’ team.
Talking about the festival, he told The Express Tribune that, dedicating the festival to families is a different concept from what other festivals focus on. “The venue is safer to come over with your families and a central point of Karachi,” he commented on the choice of venue other than beaches and hotels.
The festival did not only attract families but students and teachers from different schools also came to rejoice during their vacations after final exams.
“Coming here every year to enjoy with family is always fun,” said 12-year-old, Bisma Khan, a student of Malir Public School.
“Festivals just after exams make us more delighted,” said another student of grade eight, Aleem Asghar, who came to enjoy the endless festivities along with his school administration. Expressing her concerns about the city’s law and order situation, Rubina Ishtiaq, a teacher at a local school said, “Karachi has lost its peace but family festivals are always a ray of hope in the darkness and this trend should never end”.
The festival also features a small play land for children with kids rides and a separate food court for families with a variety of food from burgers to biryani. The festival will end on Sunday, March 22nd.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 22nd, 2015.
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