ISLAMABAD: Children of working journalists from the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad took part in the online Qirat and Naat competition, organised by National Press Club (NPC) on Ramazan 27.

The competition was the part of NPC’s annual mega event, ‘Ramazan Family Festival’ jointly organised by Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) and Overseas Pakistanis Global Foundation (OPGF).

The event was earlier scheduled to take place in the NPC lawn but owing to the spread of Covid-19, it was held on Zoom. Among others, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib, renowned Quran reciter Qari Syed Sadaqat Ali and prominent US-based Naat Khawan Noor Mohammad Jaral attended the programme.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Habib hailed the NPC for holding such a grand online programme.He saidNPC’s efforts to engage kids in noble deeds during the lockdown period are highly commendable.

Qari Syed Sadaqat Ali recited a few verses of the Quran while Noor Mohammad recited naat.

In his welcome remarks, former president of NPC Afzal Butt thanked OPFG Chairman Mehar Zaheer Akhtar, OPFG Chairman (Women Chapter) Tahira Din, President (New York chapter) Shakeel Sheikh and General Secretary Abdul Rauf for cooperating to hold the programme.

Mr Butt, who is also the former president of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) lauded NPC President Shakeel Anjum, NPC Secretary Anwar Raza, RIUJ President Aamir Sajjad Syed, RIUJ Acting General Secretary Tariq Ali Virk for working diligently over the past two weeks to make the event a real success.TheNPC president said hundreds of boys and girls aged between 4-16 years participated in the competition.

Names of winners would be announced after completion of the competition as it would continue on Ramazan 28 to accommodate the remaining registered children, he said, adding the winner would be awarded a cash prize of Rs15,000, the runner-up Rs10,000, and the third position-holder would receive Rs5,000.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2021