Daily Times

Sir: I am excited by the Sindh Festival because it will provide an opportunity for fun and enjoyment and that too in my own country. The festival will include Sufi music nights, cattle races, a donkey derby, deep-sea fishing tournament, handicraft carnivals, film festivals and cricket tournaments. And the jackpot is the beach basant, first time ever in the history of Pakistan. Cricket is considered a second religion in Pakistan. It is the binding force of our nation. In Sindh, there are three international cricket grounds in Karachi, Hyderabad and Badin. The festivities will begin with a grand opening ceremony in Mohenjodaro, Larkana, on February 1, 2014 and will continue until mid-February. On Valentine’s Day, a special ghazal night will be organised for couples and families. A painting exhibition of some of the top artists and the private collection of Benazir Bhutto will also be held. During the festival, a singing competition ‘Voice of Pakistan’ will also be organised. For two weeks, Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim will house most of the activities where artisans will set up stalls from rural Sindh displaying pottery, handicrafts and traditional souvenirs. The closing ceremony of the Sindh Culture Fest will be staged at Keenjhar Lake with an open-air concert and fireworks. And the festival will be an annual event.

The festival will not only promote tourism in Pakistan but will also send the message of peace and love to the international community. This is the first time in the history of Pakistan that any political party is going to host and organise such an amazing festival to promote culture and protect the heritage of this land. By doing so we will be able to show a colourful Pakistan to the rest of the world. I really appreciate the young leadership the of PPP for taking this initiative. The youth of Pakistan has eventually gotten its true leadership in the form of Bilawal, Bakhtawar and Aseefa. I am very optimistic that they will convert the current “banistan” into a dynamic, truly democratic, liberal and secular Pakistan. A Pakistan where there will be no discrimination on the basis of race, religion, colour, caste, creed and status. Since the rising of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on the stage of Pakistan’s politics, the youth are not misled into non-issues, we are not pushed into dharna politics and we are not incited to use abusive language for our opponents. In fact, we are on the right track.

DR SAIFUR RAHMAN

Via e-mail