May 15, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 9, 1429

KARACHI, May 14: Naib City Nazim Nasreen Jalil has said that the city government will hold various social, cultural and sports programmes during the “Hamara Karachi Festival”, to be held from May 15 to June 8.

Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday, she said that the festival being organised by the Hamara Karachi Foundation was aimed at improving the city’s image and promoting its literary, social and cultural heritage.

“All expenses to be incurred in the festival celebrations are being borne by multinational companies,” she said.

About the programmes scheduled for the next few days, she said a mehfil-i-naat would be held on Thursday at the mausoleum of Abdullah Shah Ghazi; a cricket match at the Asghar Ali Shah Stadium on Friday; and a musical concert, to be followed by fireworks, would be held at Beach View Park, Clifton, on Saturday.

Ms Jalil said that food streets would be set up in North Nazimabad and Gulshan-i-Iqbal towns from May 21 to June 8 and street theatres would be staged in different towns of the city from May 21 to 25. A four-day family gala at Safari Park would start on May 27.

A two-day inter-provincial cultural and handicraft exhibition was also among other features, she added.

As a part of the festival, a weeklong awareness drive for children about cleanliness would be launched on May 24, Ms Jalil said.