islamabad - National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) in collaboration with the Federal Directorate of Education celebrated birth day of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Senator Mushahidullah Khan, federal minister for climate change, was chief guest on the occasion.
In his address, Senator Mushahidullah Khan paid rich tributes to Quaid-e-Azam and other leaders of Pakistan Movement for their untiring struggle and meritorious contributions in creation of a homeland for the sub-continent Muslims. He also shed light on the sacrifices made by the Muslims of the sub-continent before partition.
He also commended efforts of Lok Virsa in creating an environment of unity and integration among the entire nation through a cultural perspective and promoting culture of Pakistan in a beautiful and effective manner.
Special features of the event included ribbon-cutting and cake-cutting ceremonies followed by a prestigious opening ceremony held at the beautiful surroundings of Lok Virsa Heritage Museum. A special exhibition of artisans-at-work with master artisans in the field of weaving, doll making, mirror work and wood work was also part of the Quaid-e-Azam Day celebrations at Lok Virsa.
Fifty art students from different FDE schools and colleges also took part in a painting contest on the topic “Hamare Quaid” and expressed their love to the great leader through their paintings. Around one thousand youth and children along with their families and teachers participated in the celebrations and enjoyed the fabulous programmes presented by Lok Virsa marking the occasion.
The opening ceremony presented live ‘milli naghmas’ including “millat ka pasban hai Muhammad Ali Jinnah”, “Yun de humain azadi ke dunya hui hairan”, “Ah roohe Quaid” and “Shukria Pakistan”.
In order to create harmony and integration among the federating units, special performances presenting popular Pashto, Balochi, Sindhi and Punjabi folk songs were also arranged at the ceremony, which delighted the audience a lot. Mystic songs projecting the message of peace, love and brotherhood were also presented. The Lok Virsa folk dance group presented popular Sindhi “jhoomar” dance.
Speaking on the occasion, Executive Director Lok Virsa Dr Fouzia Saeed said that it was time that we revert to the principles of our Quaid. She said that we needed to transform our country in the light of his vision to make it successful.
Separately, hundreds of children witnessed birthday anniversary celebrations of Quaid-e-Azam at Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA). The PNCA’s Children’s Art Workshop organised preliminary competitions last week and the selected children participated in the finals. Well-known puppeteer and humorous writer Farooq Qaiser, commonly known as uncle sargam, was chief guest on the occasion.
Farooq Qaiser said that independence was a great blessing of God that was bestowed by the day and night work of the father of the nation. While celebrating the birthday of the Quaid, we need to pledge to work for integrity and solidarity of the country.
Hard work and honest approach in life bring the best not only to build the character of a person, it is also necessary for the nation-building too, he said.
The winners in solo song competition included Sunbal Nazir of the Islamabad Model College for Girls, I-9, Muhammad Abdullah of Islamabad Model School for Boys, G-10/3, Bia Shahzadi of Development in Literacy School, and Aryan Zahid of Bahria Foundation School. They won first, second, third and fourth prizes, respectively.
