Pakistan Day Festival 2008 Doha Qatar
Length: 3:20
Description: Around 10,000 people attended a mega event at the Pakistan Education Centre (PEC) on Friday evening to mark the 68th Pakistan Day.
Pakistani Ambassador Mohamed Asghar Afridi was the chief guest. Consular and deputy head of mission Zahid Nasrullah, defence attaché Kaleem Shaukat and community welfare attaché and head of organising committee Hashim Popalzai were present.
The inauguration of a hostel for PEC's teachers, cultural performances by leading Pakistani artistes and students, stalls of Qatari government departments and those offering food and snacks were among the highlights.
Department of Private Education's administrative inspector Masoud Mubarak, and PEC board members were present at the hostel's opening.
The main event started with the national anthems of Qatar and Pakistan. Sehar Khalid presented Kalam-e Iqbal.
Qatar's Ministry of Interior public relations officer Lieutenant Jasim al-Banna extended greetings on behalf of Minister of State for Interior HE Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani and Public Security director general Major General Saad bin Jassim al-Khulaifi and hoped for more co-operation and communication with the Pakistani community.
Afridi presented a traditional shawl to al-Banna. He appreciated Popalzai and organising committee members for holding such a big event.
Afridi also presented shields to those who extended financial help and co-operation.
Students from Pak Shama School and Bright Future Pakistani School also presented colourful cultural items including songs and tableaus.
The artistes who performed included popular folk singer Shazia Khushk, ATV anchor person Masood Khawaja and actor Rukhsana Khan, acclaimed film and TV actor Firdous Jamal and leading Pashto singer Fazza Fayyaz.
Shazia Khushk entertained the audience with her hit songs including a Dhamaa while Fayyaz presented Pashto songs and Ghazals.
Khawaja Masood, Rukhsana Khan and Firdous Jamal entertained the audience with jokes.
The singers were supported by Shazia Khushk's sons Sher Ali and Ali Sher and a local tabla player Nazakat Ali Khan.
Former Doha resident Badar Sohail Khan flew in from Dubai to conduct the programme which had Adeel Akbar as the director.
Apart from Poplazai, the sub-committee heads who played leading roles in organising the event were PEC principal Hamayun Nasir (venue arrangements), Ajmal Chaudhari (communication) and Ashraf Siddiqiui (food and beverage).
PEC vice principals Amman Ullah, Nighat Khalid, Rukhsana Yaqub and Tasneem Javed, head teacher Zubair Khan and staff members also volunteered their services for the occasion.
Author: lovepakistanlove
Source: YouTube
