08 January 2005	Saturday	26 Ziqa'ad 1425

KARACHI, Jan 7: A large number of children, accompanied by their parents, visited the Sindh Sea Festival, organized along the Clifton seashore on Friday afternoon.

Funds generated from the festival would be used for rehabilitation of the tsunami victims. The cultural village set up on the seashore is drawing large crowds with various craftsmen giving a demonstration of their skills.

The festival was inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Ghulam Arbab Rahim, who came over a couple of hours behind schedule. He said that organizing such a festival, and people coming in such big numbers, was a clear sign that normalcy had returned to the city.

Artisan exhibiting demonstrations included those preparing the traditional Sindhi cap, traditional Khes, rilly, handloom cloth like Khadar etc, and various other handicrafts. Traditional ajrak, handmade shoes, achars (pickles) etc were also put on display.

A stall was set up at the centre of the cultural village where various small replicas of various artisans -- folk singers singing and playing musical instruments, carpenter doing his job, girl churning curd to prepare butter milk, etc - were put on display.

A fishermen's village was also created nearby, where wooden and straw huts of fishermen were set up. A few boys from Lyari, with bodies painted to make them look like African jungle people, were giving beautiful dance performances that were liked by the visitors.

The Sindh Wildlife Department had also brought various bird species, including peacocks, etc and various stuffed animals, including some rare species, so that the urban population could have a look at the natural treasure that the region possessed in abundance, but which was gradually being stolen by poachers.

A large replica of a green turtle, which too is a rare species and is being internationally protected, was on display at the roundabout at the centre of the festival area.

A big enclosure of the Pakistan Navy was also set up where huge guns, ammunition, souvenirs, replicas of various boats, submarines, ships, etc were on display. A food street had also been set up.

Earlier, the Chief Minister, Ghulam Arbab Rahim, on the occasion said that there were a very few number of recreation spots for people in the city, adding that it was the government's duty to increase such opportunities, so that healthy entertainment opportunities can be made available to the entertainment starved people of the city. He suggested that many more of such festivals should be organized regularly.

He also announced Rs100,000 for students of various government schools of the city who had participated in the parade at the inauguration of the festival. The Sindh Minister for Culture, Shabbir Ahmad Qaimkhanai, and singer Zoheb Hassan also spoke. The chief minister also went around the festival and visited various stalls.

The Karachi City Nazim, Niamatullah Khan, had also come to the festival and witnessed the parade that was especially organized for him. He also went around the festival and later left due to another scheduled meeting.

A beautiful parade was also organized. The parade was led by the contingent of Pak Marines and followed by a large number of young students of various schools of the city. The best performance was probably given by the young girls, who were dressed in army uniforms and were carrying toy-kalashnikovs.