KARACHI, Dec 18: Large numbers of people thronged the Expo Centre to visit the All About Life Styles Winter 2005 exhibition on Sunday –- the last day of the three-day family event. The crowds were so big in the evening that at many a time the organizers had to close the gates and request the enthusiastic visitors to wait till the people already in the exhibition halls came out, making room for others.

More than 200 stalls had been set up by local leading brands as well as foreign franchises. Goods were being offered at 15 to 30 per cent discounted rates. Many stalls offered gifts to attract the buyers. The visitors not only could buy goods of daily use at cheaper rates but they had a choice as a large variety of the goods were available at a single place.

Bangladesh, South Korea, Thailand, Italy and France had also set up stalls, where handicrafts and other items from those countries were sold. Thailand and South Korea had also set up food stalls, where people enjoyed the cuisines of those countries. Profits earned from the exhibition by these friendly countries would be donated to the rehabilitation of the earthquake survivors.

Large gaming zones had also been marked specifically for the children so that while the parents shopped the young ones had fun in the play areas.

Over 50 food stalls serving a large variety of foods ranging from that of South Korea, China, Thailand in the east to American fast food varieties. Besides, a large number of stalls selling the very local kababs, tikka, biryani, chats, etc were also there.

The All Breed Championship dog show held on Saturday afternoon also attracted a huge crowd. While a large number of people sat on the chairs kept for the audience of the show, even a larger number of people had to stand and watch the contesting dogs, strolling along with their handlers, during the contest.

Coming to the exhibition was not like going for a shopping or taking children out for fun. It was like a complete family picnic and generally families spent two to four hours doing shopping, children playing, strolling on the spacious grounds, and eating.

The Dawn Group of Newspapers has been organizing the exhibition twice a year -– in June and December – in the city since 2001. The exhibition is held in Lahore and Islamabad also.