LAHORE: BARGAD, a Gujranwala-based youth-development organisation, in collaboration with the Youth Affairs Department, Chief Minister’s Special monitoring Unit (SMU) and Walled City Lahore Authority (WCLA) organized the ‘Arz-e-Pakistan’ march as part of its campaign titled ‘Ten Days for Pakistan here on Sunday. The march started from Delhi Gate and culminated at Wazir Khan Chowk. Around 200 people, including 100 females, participated in the march. Participants were singing patriotic songs throughout the march. Ahsan, a participant, said: “A feeling of togetherness runs throughout the march. Today I have witnessed a display of patriotism I had not seen before.” Youth Affairs Department Deputy Secretary Tehmina Habib remarked, “Through this march, we hope to achieve two results – firstly, showcasing the diversity within Pakistan, and secondly, showcasing that diversity only makes us stronger.” BARGAD Executive Director Sabiha Shaheen added: “Today we should take pride in our accomplishment. We gathered here as individuals but we marched as one.” WCLA Director General Kamran Lashari said: “The Lahore walled city premises is the perfect venue for the glorious march as Lahore is the heart of Pakistan and gestures of such love for our country fit right in.” WCLA Media Department head Tania Qureshi added: “Today we have celebrated Pakistan’s rich heritage, history and embodied one of its founding principles – unity.” The march was part of the activities the BARGAD carrying out in Punjab. On Saturday, a festival was also organised by the BARGAD in collaboration with SMU, Youth Affairs Department and other organisations to mark 70th Independence Day of Pakistan. Featuring of an inauguration session, a panel discussion on ‘Way forward for a peaceful Pakistan’ and a musical programme, the festival was attended by 500 participants, including students, parliamentarians, civil society members and celebrities. Published in Daily Times, August 14th 2017.