KARACHI, Dec 27: City Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil said on Wednesday that the Our Karachi festival for celebrating the platinum jubilee of the KMC Building would begin on January 6 in which some 54 events would be held across the city during the 13-day event. The festival will be also attended by delegates from abroad, including India.

Speaking at a press conference at her office, Mrs Jalil maintained that the Our Karachi (Hamara Karachi) festival was the event of citizens of the metropolis, which would reflect the soft image of Karachi and highlight the harmony among its people from diversified cultural backgrounds.

She said President General Pervez Musharraf had appreciated the holding of ‘Our Karachi’ event and he wanted a successful show. She said these celebrations were being held under the supervision of a society, whose chief patron is Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan.

She said there would be a total of 54 events in the city and effort would be made to get a realisation in every citizen that he owned Karachi. The event would also be attended by the mayor of Kolkata, Subrata Mukharji, and his wife; the chairperson of the New Delhi Municipal Corporation, Mrs Sindhushree Khullar; the Council member of Houston, M.J. Khan, and his delegation.

Mrs Jalil said that main programmes would be held in the KMC Building on January 16, 17 and 18 and the foreign delegates would also attend these programmes.

Narrating the details of programmes in the Our Karachi festival, she said that from January 14 to 18 a film festival would be held at Arts Council. Some nine cinemas would screen various films on January 6, 8 to 12. Functions of Qawwali would be held in different towns from January 6 to 15.

She also said that during the festival a documentary `Azadi Key Mujrim’ (Villains of Freedom) would also be screened in Khaliqdina Hall for 10 days. Food streets would also be set up on Burnes Road, Hassan Square, North Nazimabad, Korangi and Landhi from January 8 to 18. The archival material relating to Karachi would be displayed at the KMC building from January 16 to 18. An Indonesian dance and music show would be held at KMC building on January 17. An exhibition Polo match would be held on January 14 at Malir Cantt.

She said that an inter-faith evening would be held on January 16 in which besides Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Parsis and others will participate.

She said besides the other main events, a Mushaira would also be held which would be attended by prominent Indian and Pakistani poets.

She said that some of the programmes in the festival would be held at town administrations and union council level on January 10, 11, 12 and 13 for children.

The naib nazim said that the foundation stone of the KMC building was laid on December 14, 1895. The building was completed on December 31, 1930 but was formally inaugurated on January 7, 1932.

She appreciated the Pakistan Post Office for issuing commemorative stamps on the Platinum Jubilee of the KMC Building and also appreciated multinational companies for playing their role in the holding of threes programmes.