|
|
|
The Expo 2005 experience
One good thing about Expo 2005, notwithstanding the massive security and immense inconvenience caused to Karachi’s residents by the chronic traffic jams that accompanied the trade fair, was the fashion and cultural show that was organized for the participating vendors, specially those who had come from overseas.
The hosts, the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) had organized the event at the Baradari, adjacent to the Polo Ground. This venue, which consists of sprawling lawns with fountains, is often used for such engagements, especially if the government is involved, and sometimes one really has to question the utility of organizing such events because they tend to harm the grass and the various installations contained in the premises. The theme of the show was Pakistani weddings along with another segment titled ‘Rhythms of the Indus.’
Designer Nomi Ansari and Rewaj’s creations were showcased in the weddings segment. Well over a couple of thousand people had come to the event and it seemed that just about everyone and anyone related to a Sindh government or commerce ministry official (the ministry under which comes the EPB) had managed an invitation. Also, one noticed that there were hundreds of people, mostly young men, milling about the crowd who were wearing identification badges around their necks showing them to be with the organizers. However, most of them could not even answer a question as basic as where is one to be seated or where the restrooms are (there were apparently none).
Thankfully though, several large screens had been set up on the right side of the Baradari, away from the stage so that the spill-over crowd (the stage was facing the left half of the ground) could also get a glimpse of the show. It has to be said, however, that the organizers seemed to have exercised very bad judgement in asking Fakhre Alam to be the master of ceremonies. Mr Alam, who apparently manages to be the MC at many such events, uses humour which is often stale and forced, and in any case doesn’t really make one even chuckle, let alone laugh. It’s time that those who hold such events tried to hired different faces because seeing the same person everywhere and then again on television can be quite boring and monotonous.
As for the fashion show segment, well, it seemed just like any other. Nomi Ansari has already been praised to death on various other occasions for me to try and do the same. However, the standard of modelling was pretty pedestrian, specially the choreography, and one was surprised that the person behind this was Imran Kureishi who recently celebrated 25 years in the fashion industry and whose services were eulogized by various fashion writers in glowing terms.
The weddings segment was followed by a break during which the guests were treated to a breathtaking fireworks show. This went on for well over 10 minutes making one wonder just how much had the EPB spent on this. Then came dinner, with the guests descending on the food as if they hadn’t eaten in two days. One good thing, though, was that there was lots of it and also considerable variety. Dinner was followed by the other segment, ‘Rhythms of the Indus’ where some of the country’s best musicians performed including Junoon, Atif Aslam, Strings and a few others.
One hopes that the next time such an event is held by a government organization at Karachi’s Baradari, it won’t see fit to close down both sides of the much-used Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road, which was the case when this show was held. The end result was predictable: traffic chaos right in front of the Sindh Chief Minister’s House, and Sheraton and PC hotels. Now that is not the kind of atmosphere the government would want to show its esteemed foreign guests.
|
|
|
|
