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| December 8, 2003 | Monday | Shawwal 13, 1424 |
Over 140,000 people visit ‘All About Lifestyles’ show
ISLAMABAD, Dec 7: The “All About Lifestyles” exhibition turned out to be a big
crowd-puller as over 140,000 people visited the Convention Centre to watch and
enjoy the extravaganza over the two days.
The Islamabad-based diplomatic community seemed to have shrugged off fears and
apprehensions about their security and visited the exhibition in good numbers.
Even some Americans were seen roaming around.
After last year’s experience, the people of the twin-cities were eager to flock
to the vast exhibition areas and sprawling lawns of the Convention Centre to be
part of the second “All About Lifestyles Exhibition”, organized by the Dawn
Group of Newspapers, which began on Saturday.
The whole area, thronged by excited and enthusiastic groups of people,
window-shopping at different stalls and pavilions, gave a vibrant feel and
lively environment, especially for the youth.
It was one of those very few and far-between opportunities which come the way of
the people of this otherwise dull and monotonous federal capital. People, who
turned up at the exhibition site, were enjoying every moment despite a chilly
evening.
The organizers seemed pleased as they felt that they had provided an opportunity
to the people of the twin cities of Islamabad-Rawalpindi ‘to live with style,
see and adopt life with style and fashion in its different manifestations and
modes’.
“We believe that through this exhibition we have brought a nice and refreshing
change to those thirsty for entertainment and looking forward for an exciting
day out with their families and friends,” said one of the organizers.
A visit to the exhibition showed that besides providing option for people and
organizations to promote and project their ideas and products, the visitors
appreciated all the entertainment and excitement the exhibition had to offer
under a single roof.
Over 100 exhibitors had displayed their new and innovative products attracting
quality and health conscious clientele. The products ranged from consumer and
food items to commercial products, classic cars and fire works.
“This was an amazing and a unique event. The weather was cooperative. Everybody
had a great time. It was a great chance to see people out with their families
which makes me feel normal”, said Patrick Comey, an American citizen on the
opening day.
Huma and Nazia, both working ladies, believed, “Dawn Lifestyles exhibition had
awaken the dead environment of Islamabad. All under one roof, its an exciting
and entertaining experience. The weekend was a perfect day to get the working
people spend quality time with their families and friends”.
“There is everything for everybody. Balloon rides, projectors, live coverage,
food and electronics. You name it and the exhibition has it”, said a group of
teens having a good time in the video games pavilion.
Besides live performance by an underground band, the exhibition included
theatric performances and recitation of poems by students of a private college.
The members of a poetic society said the exhibition was a wonderful opportunity
for the young upcoming poets to expose people to their deep poetry.
The best part for the kids was the area where there were huge balloons and other
playing facilities created especially for them.
The fireworks on Saturday, which lit the skies over Islamabad for a brief
period, seemed to be the show for which everybody present at the exhibition were
waiting for.
There was too much to see and enjoy for almost everybody who stepped in the
exhibition area. Be it the love for old cars, passion for IT, craze for good
breed of dogs, an urge to watch some good paintings or calligraphy, curiosity as
to what is ‘in’ when it comes to domestic settings or a wish to douse the
culinary cravings or simply a desire to be part of a crowd and watch.
There was a big rush of people on Sunday and the stalls were swarmed by the
visitors in every pavilion throughout the day.
The entertainment-starved people of the twin cities of Rawalpindi-Islamabad
started pouring in the exhibition from the morning and an incessant flow
continued till late in the evening.
Many had brought their children in a hope for a repeat of first day’s fireworks
display but were disappointed as the activity was arranged only for the opening
of the exhibition on Saturday.
There was enough to watch and be amused even if one was not interested in buying
anything from the well decorated stalls. For the children it was excitement all
round and they seemed to be pulling the elders in all the directions. The
hot-air balloon and the inflated castle and other such playing facilities were
fascinating the young ones. Especially a ride in the casket of hot-air balloon
was something the children were after.
The big companies were out to lure customers, offering attractive packages and
incentives on their products and services which many found irresistible. The IT
pavilion was swarmed by young students, and with their curiosity aroused they
were trying to make the best out of the deals offered to them at the exhibition.
A number of known personalities were spotted in the exhibition area where the
paintings by a number of well-known and many upcoming artists were displayed
along side calligraphy work by renowned calligraphists.
At the dog show the people had brought their prized breeds like Labradors,
Poodles, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Dacshands, Great Danes and Pekingeres
and those with interest in this field had a good opportunity to put their pets
to tests as well as meet each other.
The food pavilion, as was expected, remained crowded without a break.
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