KaravanKarachi Festival 2001

KaravanKarachi Festival 2001

  • Introduction
  • Acknowledgement Ceremony Address by Ms. Yasmeen Lari, Chairperson Karavan Initiatives

  • Address of H.E. Mohammedmian Soomro, Governor, Sindh

  • KK01- Programme

  • Outline of KK01 FESTIVAL- Pre-September Events

  • KK01 FESTIVAL- September Events

Introduction 

The KaravanKarachi Festival was the outcome of a humongous effort made by journalists, industrialists, actors, designers and more to celebrate their city – Karachi. The main aim of this Festival was to rekindle pride amongst the citizens for their city and also to boost the economy through tourism while focusing on the heritage of the city in an effort to maintain it.

 

This group of interested people was formed under the auspices of Heritage Wallay, Friends of Heritage Foundation to plan the “Festival of Karachi”. This Festival consisted of two components a) a series of Pre-September events, starting from January 2001, which culminated in b) a colourful and energetic starburst of back to back events in September, the actual month of the festival. After its launch on February 21 by Governor Sindh at Sindh Governor's House, KaravanKarachi Festival 2001 held 23 Heritage Streetfests between March and August 2001, which were attended by over 100,000 people. Under KaravanKarachi Community Participation program 120 community football matches were held in District West through participation of 200 Mohallah Committees.

 

The festivities during the festival month of September 2001, were begun by an inaugural parade which wound its way around the Quaid-e-Azam's Mausoleum consisting of a large number of floats representing schools, communities and cultural Heritage of Karachi.

 

The 2-day International Heritage Seminar titled 'Heritage, Urban Space and Identity' was attended by delegates from abroad and Pakistan.

 

During the Theatre Festival 90 performances were made by schools, street theatre and proscenium theatre.

 

The film festival screened films from Pakistan and abroad, while a photography exhibition portrayed the work of well-known photographers.

 

Other events included Seafood festival by Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority, Musical events and a community festival.

 

The Fashion Week highlighted several historic buildings and Fashion Tribute ceremony paid homage to those who had contributed significantly to the promotion of fashion industry in Pakistan.

 

In the Acknowledgement Ceremony 4500 children from government, special and elite schools thronged the Sindh Governor House as part of KaravanKarachi Festival 2001 Acknowledgment Ceremony on Nov. 5th 2001. Governor Sindh presented 4,500 Certificates and 300 souvenirs

 

The September Festival was a celebration of the cultural and historical legacy which has made the city of Karachi what it is today. The theme of the festival was to celebrate all those aspects of the city that make it great. Karachi, had been through difficult times in past decades but it has been a vibrant and important city for a much longer time and continues to be the commercial and industrial hub of Pakistan. Particular aspects of Karachi’s inheritance include its architectural heritage, diverse communities, the port and coastline and the variety of trading, commercial and industrial sectors represented in the city formed the basis for the festival and the presentations, displays, performances, recitals and events all drew on the characteristics that make the city unique and special, both within Pakistan and internationally.

 

Heritage Wallay-the force behind KK01Festival-is a group of people traversing across the spectrum of Karachi’s citizens who all contributed to the Festival planning. The festival targeted an equally wide group of people; the plan was for events to be widely spread across Karachi, to include everything from free street parties to ticketed events. The basic theme, however was that the Festival of Karachi is not only open to all but important to all; in setting Karachi in its proper historical context, and allowing all those for whom this city is home to take a part in its rejuvenation.

 

The festival of Karachi highlighted the crucial importance of conservation and proper planning in making life in the city better. The Festival celebrated the history of Karachi in other ways too – through the display of antiques and paintings held in private collections as well as in public institutions, and through history portrayed in photographs, storytelling, music, dance and theatre and cuisine- to demonstrate how vital those historical influences are on how well the city lives today, and to show how the hidden treasures of the past can illuminate our future.

 

Acknowledgement Ceremony Address

by Ms. Yasmeen Lari, Chairperson Karavan Initiatives

 

HE  Governor Sindh Mohammad Mian Soomro

Distinguished guests

Children, ladies and gentlemen

 

On behalf of Heritage Wallay-Friends of Heritage Foundation, a non-government not-for-profit organization of dedicated professionals, I welcome you all to this important Karavan Karachi Acknowledgemnt Ceremony – important for us because today we would like to publicly say thank you to all those who contributed towards the success of a series of festivals spread over 7 months to celebrate the historic architecture and multiple attributes of our great metropolis. Due to the enthusiastic participation of Karachiites, Karavan has evolved into a cultural and social empowerment programme which has touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

 

When on 21st February this year we embarked on Karavan Karachi Festival 2001 from this historic venue with the blessing of Governor Sindh Mohammedmian Soomro, the actualization of cultural rejuvenation of Karachi through the participation of its citizens was but a dream. When the process of weekly heritage streetfests was begun, the overwhelming response from ordinary Karachiites – some 10,000 attended the Empress Market venue – was overpowering. As we progressed through 23 consecutive Sundays, a unique partnership emerged between the Government, private sector, the media, general public and Karavan Karachi. The media – its writers, photographers, videomakers- played a crucial role in carrying our message into millions of homes helping create a feeling of pride and social bonding as never before.

 

Through the 5-1/2 months of streetfests was highlighted the remarkable heritage of Karachi acknowledging the contributions of the various communities of this rainbow city – ancient dargahs (shrines) and mosques, grand churches and Christian schools, great educational institutions built by Hindus and Parsis – a klaeidescope of imperial, imperial vernacular, classical, Indo Gothic, Italianate and Anglo-Mughal style buildings along with varying architectural blends reflecting the dynamism of the people of this great city. Our streetfest chief guests consisting of eminent personalities of the city – responded to our invitation with enthusiasm and attended them even during the most unbearable summer months. When you yourself Sir, and Begum Soomro accepted our invitation, and arrived without protocol or security, for long an unheard of gesture from a head of a province, it was in the spirit of the streetfest. By walking around the stretch of road, rubbing shoulders with people from all walks of life you sent a powerful message of return to normalcy on Karachi’s streets. A similar message was conveyed by US Consul General John Bennett, today represented by the new Consul General., Minister of Finance Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Minister of Health General Ahsan Ahmed, Director General Pakistan Rangers General Shahid Tirmizey, Chairman Karachi Port Trust Admiral Khalid Mir and MD Karachi Shipyard Admiral Arshad Munir, when they joined our streetfest participants and signed out famous Karavan Karachi signature roll – the human chain now stretched to over 5,000 feet. We are proud that our 52 chief guests including eminent intellectuals Jamiluddin Aali, Mushtaq Ahmed Yousufi, Dr. Manzoor Ahmed, Dr. Pirzada Qasim, Mohtarma Fatima Bajia and Ghazi Salahuddin; Showbiz personalities Zeba Bakhtiar, Nadeem, Tina Sani, Shakeela Khurasani, Shakeel, Talat Hussain, Qazi Wajid and Sania Saeed, staesmen Sherbaz Mazari and Ilahi Bakhsh Soomro, Educationists and Social workers Begum Qamar Ispahani, Begum Majid Malik and Nissar effendi, Doctors Mushtaq Hassan and Sethna, alongwith Archbishop Pereira, Fr. Archie D’Souza, Rev.Sr. Mary Emily, Sisters Zinnia and Dolores Anne, NED vice chancellor Abul Kalam, Ava Cowasjee and artists Jimmy Engineer.

 

In the spirit of Karavan the street fest pulled together the work of our various committees – Music Committee chaired by Shanaz Ramzi, Theatre Committee chaired by Sohail Malik, Fashion and Cultural Committee chaired by Shaiyanne Malik and co-chaired by Yasin Siddik, Food Committee chaired by Zahid Khan, Martial Arts Committee chaired by Azmat Ataka, Private Schools Committee chaired by Afroza Bhamani and Community Participation Committee chaired by Farzana Saleem, alongwith painting and sketching coordinatotrs Badar Kalam, Waseem and Shazli and scores of volunteer students of Sadequain School of Art and Department of Visual Arts of Karachi University coordinated by Arts Committee Chair Durriya Kazi, PIA scout volunteers by Mahkoor and Qamar Shamim , martial arts volunteers by Munawwar Ali and Syed Shakeel Ahmed, and Heritage Foundation volunteers by Atif Ashraf.

 

The remarkable Karavan Karachi community participation programme of Farzana Saleem has been under way for a whole year. Her 200 mohallah committees have been actively engaged in promoting extra curricular activities for the youth of the area. During July and August a football tournament was organized during which 120 matches were played every day between competing mohallah teams. Today almost 500 children of disadvantaged areas are being educated in 5 Karavan Karachi Ilmi schools entirely through community effort.

 

The involvement of school children has been among the most rewarding aspects of our work. Young children from scores of community, Government, private and special schools have performed with extraordinary enthusiasm, photographing, painting and sketching historic buildings – over 3,000 photographs and 5,000 sketches and paintings etc. were produced by children, samples of which can be seen on our display panels. Scores of schools have been motivated to carry out research and documentation of Karachi, in the process developing a sense of pride as could be seen in the shining eyes of children who put up exhibitions at Shah Wilayat School, Kids University and Nasra School. Through the efforts of Teachers Resource Centre scores of others have carried out documentation on Karachi.

 

A schools programme spearheaded by Nasreen Nemat Ali in consultation with DIG Traffic, was the Beautify-a-Roundabout programme during festival month of September which gave such a festive air to many of the city’s desolate roundabouts. It was carried out through the efforts of the students and teachers of Lyceum, Avicenna, City School, Beaconhouse, DHA Public School, Aisha Bawany, Jaffer Public, Roots School Network, Dawood Public, Springfield, School of Excellence, Aga Khan, Generation and Shah Wilayat School and we are thankful to all of them.

 

The culmination of our efforts since February 21, was seen during the various festivals organized throughout the month of September, when almost every day a Karavan Karachi event was happening. The artistic invitation card and calendar of events were designed by Communications Design chair Saima Zaidi based on a remarkable water colour especially painted and gifted by the famous colourist Athar Jamal depicting the architecture and life of Karachi.

 

You Mr. Governor were once again part of us at the inaugural Carnival Parade on September 1 winding around peripheral roads of Quaid-e-Azam’s Mazar. The diversity of Karachi and multidimensional  aspect of KaravanKarachi was mirrored forcefully in this remarkable street event – a parade of 20 gaily decorated historic building floats representing the culture of Sindh and carrying community dancers and folk musicians. There were decorated camels and buggies alongwith vintage  cars sporting elegant fashion models. You will recall the enthusiastic waving of 5,000 school children from community, government and private schools, as you traversed the peripheral roads in an open buggy defying security considerations, but providing a great source of encouragement to gaily dressed school bands, stage performers and PT displays.

 

The first ever three week long Theatre Festival, a brainchild of Theatre Chair Sohail Malik and coordinated by co-chair Arif Bahalim, yielded over 90 performances by school children, traveling street theatre, and various drama groups. 5 experimental heritage bus tours were conducted for school children while an international two-day heritage seminar was attended by delgates from Japan, India and Germany alongwith Pakistani speakers. The music festival consisting of 3 memorable events was coordinated by Music Chair Shanaz Ramzi. A one day Community festival by Community participation chair Farzana Saleem was held at Bacha Khan Chowk. The 2 day Food Festival at Bagh-i-Ibn-Qasim was coordinated by Food Committee chair Zahid Khan, during which an important activity was the Fisheries Mela and Karachi’s first sea-food festival organized by the dynamic Chairman of Karachi Fish Harbour Commodore Tayyab Naqvi. The 3-day Film Festival was coordinated by Arts Committee chair Durriya Kazi, and a photographic exhibition on Karachi by eminent photographers by co-chair Danish Tapal. The series of festivals concluded with the holding of the first Fashion Week, a dream of Fashion and Culture chair Shaiyanne Malik and organized by herself and co-chair Yasin Siddik. The first national Fashion Tribute ceremony was held on September 28, when awards were presented to fashion personalities by our eminent chief guests Khadija Soomro and Afshan Ghazi.

 

Of course none of this would have been possible without the support of our sponsors. On the top of the list is our main sponsor Coca Cola. Amer Pasha and his team joined us soon after the launch in February. At that time Karavan Karachi was but a dream and it is to Amer Pasha’s credit that he foresaw the possibility of Karachi’s rejuvenation – being a Karachiite himself he saw more than just the commercial potential, he believed in our programme as well.

Our co-sponsor Habib Oil Mills also joined us soon after CEO Tanveer Hasan expressed tremendous interest and as in the case of Coca Cola believed in our dream, I thank both our main sponsor Coca Cola and co-sponsor Habib Oil Mills for having been with us from the first heritage streetfest in March.

 

Among our other significant sponsors are Lux who provided support to our fashion events and the possibility of holding an annual Pakistan’s Fashion Week on a regular basis. Al-Karam Textile Mills contribution towards the Fashion Tribute ceremony ensured its success and its CEO Rafiq Ibrahim arranged the printing of the first fabric range based on Karachi’s historic architecture. Due to the support provided by Awais Ahmed Country Manager, Kodak and Ataullah Farooqui, CEO of Imaging Technologies we were able to hold the first International Film Festival and a photography exhibition on Karachi, along with photograph-a-historic-building programme for schools. The support of Lasmo Oil Pakistan Ltd. enabled us to pursue the core content of heritage through the international seminar and heritage on the web, while our Archives Committee chair Laila Haroon Sarfaraz’s timely contribution of Amir Nazir of Etech and Hi tech droups enabled udsto carry out our community participation programme. Due to Byram Avari’s interest we were able to avail complimentary Avari hotel accommodation for our international guests.

 

PIA Managing Director Ahmad Saeed Chaudhry provided support in the form of tickets for our international film festival and heritage seminar, and due to the interest of Civil Aviation Director General Air Marshal Aliuddin and Director Brigadier Tariq’s Karachi airport was opened up for us.

 

Others who made significant contribution are the cultural centres of the city. The British Council who became part of us due to the enthusiastic erstwhile director Richard Hardwick as did Alliance Francaise, Goethe Institut, Japan Cultural Centre and Consulate General of Japan, PACC and the Arts Council by arranging events at their premises or through support of various activities.

 

I thank them all, and also those who provided us support in kind, too innumerable to mention due to shortage of time.

 

To us our sponsors are very dear, but equally so are the institutions and organizations that opened their doors for us. Mr. Governor, it was due to your tremendous personal interest, that perhaps for the first time, all government agencies short circuited procedures to facilitate our work, giving us permissions for holding our events, putting their premises at our disposal and making arrangements for security and diversion of traffic. I would like to say a special thank you to Brigadier Akhtar Zamin, principal secretary to the Governor who always seemed to be available even though difficult times for the city provided guidance to ensure that our events were not disrupted.

 

I would like to thank Pakistan navy and the extremely supportive Comkar Admiral Haroon for having placed at our disposal, right from the beginning, not only their wonderful bands but the exciting venue of Manora and Maritime Museum as well.

 

I thank Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh for his interest, and Professor Anita Ghulam Ali for her active role in encouraging the involvement of a large number of government schools; Chief Secretary Javaid Ashraf and Secretary Department of Culture Ashiq Memon for their support, and Secreataries of Department of Education, Excise and Auqaf Departments for facilitating our work, alongwith Deputy Secretary Farzana Saleem who acted as Karavan Karachi coordinator at Sindh Secretariat. I am thankful to ex-commissioner Karachi and now DCO Shafiqur  Rehman Paracha and ex DC’s Shoib Siddiqui and Roshan who gave us permissions as soon as we sent in our requests. I would like also to thank the Nazim Naimatullah Khan and the city governmenrt for being equally supportive.

 

All through the many months when we were conducting our functions on the streets of Karachi, our police rendered remarkable help to us. DIG Karachi Tariq Jamil and SSP Rehmani ensured security along with General Tirmizey’s Pakistan Rangers. DIG Traffic Yamin Khan and his enthusiastic DSP’s planned and organized the diversions to create the least problems for traffic. Without their commitment to Karavan Karachi it would not have been possible to hold our events.

 

My heartfelt thanks are also due to the media especially those journalists and press photographers who attended our streetfests and braved the summer heat of Karachi every Sunday.

 

Now for the next year!

With the groundswell of goodwill that Karavan enjoys today, it is poised to act as a bridge between various sections of society in order to conserve our cultural assets and promote social bonding.

 

 

  1. Cultural heritage will remain our focus, which has proved to be a strong binding force for people from all sides of the divide.
  2. Reaching out to children and young people who responded with such enthusiasm will remain our aim.
  3. Community empowerment programme will remain a critical social dimension.

 

 

Our Annual Programme:

Briefly, we will be pursuing year long programmes consisting of monthly heritage streetfests and weekly heritage bus tours.

 

Proposals will be developed for the creation of heritage precincts focusing on the cleaning of buildings and their surrounding environment. We hope that assistance of the  city government and relevant agencies will be coming forth for this purpose.

 

We would like to see greater focus on the heritage of islands such as Manora, which we hope can be achieved with the cooperation of Comkar Admiral Haroon and Karachi Port Trust chairman Admiral Hayat.

 

We are keen that the success of first seafood festival is followed by the creation of a permanent Fisherman’s Wharf for serving authentic traditional sea food, alongwith the promotion of  fisher folk’s crafts and folklore.

 

Next year our important community participation programme will be continued with renewed vigour. Programmes involving environmental improvement and skill training along with sports and extracurricular activities for the youth will be organized.

 

Karavan has proved that historic buildings can prove to be an effective rallying point for creating sense of identity for the young. It therefore becomes crucial to expose our young generations to the rich cultural heritage of the province and country. We would like to declare 2002 as Karavan Year of Sindh Heritage. Under this programme camps will be set up in the interior of Sindh as well as Karachi for school children from all over Pakistan in order to familiarize them with the best kept secret of Sindh – its cultural heritage. We are fortunate to receive the blessing of the supportive Director General Department of Archaeology Saeddur Rahman for our camps at ancient sites of Makli and Moenjodaro. All the material generated at these camps: photographs, sketches, paintings and essays will be displayed during Festival 2002 in Karachi. We request your help Mr. Governor in this rather ambitious endeavour to secure effective particpation from the interior as well as other provinces.

 

A crucial aspect of the heritage game is the conservation of historic buildings. The largest number of buildings at risk are located in urban areas – the very same resource that can bring about a sense of identification with the city. In order not to penalize owners of these national assets, incentives and assistance are crucial for their survival. Your government has taken the first positive steps when our supportive finance minister Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh declared a 25% reduction in  property tax for protected heritage buildings. The establishment of a fund to provide first-aid assistance and conservation guidelines to owners of heritage buildings has now become imperative. for this purpose I announce the establishment of a Heritage Fund and request you to accept becoming its patron. I am sure this step will go a long way in saving architectural treasures for our future generations.

 

We declare next September as Karavan Karachi Festival 2002, when festivals will be organized based on the experience gained through this year’s events. It will be our endeavour next year to implement programmes that could not be carried out due to lack of sponsorship interest, such as Arts and Crafts streetfest and Literary Festival, alongwith publications on various aspects of Karachi.

 

Preparatory work for September 2002 is being undertaken for the inaugural carnival parade, a Heritage Festival, a Community Festival, a Theatre Festival, an Arts Festival, a Music Festival, a Literary Festival and a Fashion Festival.

 

Before concluding I would like to thank all Karavan committees who worked so hard throughout the year for the actualization of our dream. I thank Farzana Saleem, Shanaz Ramzi, Sohail Malik, Shaiyanne Malik, Zahid Khan, Afroza Bhamani, Arif Bahalim and Yasin Siddik for their extraordinary contribution. I would also like to thank Sohail Zaheer Lari, President Heritage Foundation who allowed Heritage Foundation to deviate from its committed goal of research, and publications to divert its resources to Karavan.

 

In offering my sincere thanks to the dynamic people of this great metropolis, I would like to reaffirm our dedication to make Karachi the focus of Pakistan.

 

Along with its spirit of inclusiveness the Karavan has thrived due to voluntary effort and our doors will always be open to all those who would like to join us in our endeavours.

 

In conclusion, Mr. Governor, there is little I can say which would convey the gratitude we all feel at Karavan for the enormous support, guidance and encouragement you have provided in our journey towards the fulfillment of our dream for cultural rejuvenation of Karachi.

 

I thank you all.

 

 

Speech Of H.E. Mohammedmian Soomor, Governor, Sindh

Karavan Karachi Acknowledgement Ceremony

on Monday the 5th November 2001 at 1700 hours

at Sindh Governor’s House

 

Some of you might be under the impression that today would be Karavan Karachi’s closing ceremony. Being aware of the enthusiasm of Heritage Wallay, I assure you that this Acknowledgement Ceremony is more to be a freshb , better and more challenging beginning – also, going beyond Karachi. Just as we launched the Karavan From these very lawns in February 2001, it may be more appropriate to term today’s function a re-launch.

 

Karachi has somehow got accustomed to the Karavan and its all-embracing and appealing scope of activities. Karachi now needs the Karavan, and the Karavan needs to continue and keep the city throbbing with life.

 

What must be commended is the way our Karavan Karachi has been able to achieve so much in such a short time. For this I must compliment Yasmeen Lari and her team of dedicated, Karachi friendly eminent professionals who have donated their time and effort for the projection of this great city. Working with singular zeal and single-minded perseverance, they made the city alive once again and encouraging others to follow in the Karavan’s footsteps.

 

We are grateful to Almighty to have been able to facilitate your work whenever you requested and I once again pledge my full support to your next year’s agenda.

 

To witness the participation and enthusiasm of so many loveable children and charming young people is indeed heartening, as is the involvement of different communities covering the whole spectrum.

 

Today’s gathering of people representing a cross section of the city is a commendable way to demonstrate our national solidarity as well as our resolve to combat negative and divisive forces.

 

Your agenda of cultural and social empowerment is beginning to yield dividends through the productive and constructive work being carried out ina large number of schools, focusing on the heritage and diverse communities of the city. I am confident that your attempts at social bonding through various heritage and community events will also yield positive results in easing the tensions that have unfortunately for long marred the peace of this great city.

 

I am glad to note that you have decided to make the “September Festival” an annual celebration alongwith your year-long programmes focusing on heritage, children, communities and peace and harmony.

 

I am happy to learn about your plans to declare the year 2002 as Karavan Karachi Year of Sindh Heritage, which will project the provincial cultural heritage on an all-Pakistan basis. By establishing camps for school children on important heritage sites such as Moenjodaro and Makli, and significant cities such as Karachi and Rohri/Sukkur is a commendable way to introduce the rich heritage of our province to Pakistan’s future generations. I am aware of the difficulties in implementing such an ambitious project. However, I assure you that Government will provide all possible support to facilitate your work. At the same time other provinces will also be requested to participate in this important programme.

 

The proposal of establishment of a Heritage Fund is also of great significance, in view of Karachi’s 600 buildings now on the heritage list, a fund such as this has become essential for the conservation and upkeep of historical buildings. Unfortunately, due to financial constraints, the Government is not ina position to provide much funding. However, I pledge full support for the establishment of such a fund and the Government will assume its patronage. The fund will go a long way in assisting to maintain these buildings alongwith imparting the much needed training for conservation work. We seek donations and support from individuals and organizations.

 

I am also delighted to offer full support for Karavan Karachi’s year long programmes as well as the annual “September Festival”. The doors of the Governor’s House will be open to you whenever you need any help or assistance from us which you will find forthcoming even more readily than before. I would like to see greater participation by the private sector and semi-government organizations for the implementation of your objectives. I urge them to join the Karavan which InshAllah promises to grow bigger and bigger in the years to come.

 

While complimenting you and your team on your extra-ordinary achievements during these difficult times, I must also pay tribute to the spirit, exuberance, versatility and vitality of the citizens of Karachi. The Karavan has proved that this vibrant city just awaits an opportunity to excel. Government and I am sure the community will be ready to support all initiatives for the projection of the multifaceted attributes of this great city.

 

My prayers and best wishes are with you for the future as are those of the rest of the citizens of fair Karachi, our very own “City of Lights” . May it always remain so! May Almighty Allah bless us all.

 

Karachi and Sindh Zindabad

Pakistan Paindabad

 

 

KK01 FESTIVAL

Programme

 

Karavan Karachi promises to be the most significant cultural event Karachi has hosted. This year the people of Karachi are invited to celebrate their own city and its achievements. Heritage, art, literature, music, sports, cuisine and commerce form just some of the focal points of the activities that will culminate in a month of festivals in September 2001. The underlying principle is inclusivity and the festival aims at reaching out to people living in all areas of Karachi. 

 

Several programmes and activities have already begun, e.g. community participation programme with its 200 mohallah committees has taken shape; the Heritage Streetfest, a component of Heritage Festival aims at creating a mini street-festival every Sunday at identified heritage buildings, bringing in young people from all parts of the city to attend performances and workshops being organized in the street; the IT programme includes conducting a software competition in collaboration with ITCN Asia 2001 and a volunteer manned cyberfloat ( a float and a mobile cyber station) which will roam streets in all areas of Karachi familiarizing the young with computers; among sports events, the mohallah committees are organizing a host of tournaments including football, cricket, racing, sailing, cycling etc. which will culminate in final tournaments in September.

 

The kickoff during the month of September will be the Heritage Festival consisting of a light and sound show, exhibitions on archival material and builders of the city, paying tribute to personalities and institutions of the city, seminars and tours to historic buildings. A food festival will consist of street food parties to selected cuisine at selected places and ethnic food offerings including a sea food festival and a floating food bazaar. A Parks and Trees festival aimed at large-scale planting and nurturing trees of indigenous species, exhibitions of indigenous and special plants e.g. orchids, cacti etc., a plants travelling seminar, guidance about plants and plantations. During the Sports festival tournaments and competitions will be held all over the city which will include a variety of sports including yachting, sailing, donkey and camel races, athletics and gymnastics. Literary Festival will comprise of book and poetry readings, large book fairs all over the city and sale of books at reduced prices with Karachi as the topic; noted Karachi authors, poets and  journalists will be honoured. Music Festival aims at music events to suit the taste of young and old, classical music lovers as well as pop groups and street musicians will be performing in different parts of the city. Likewise theatre festival also aims at putting up a variety of plays —from theatre performances to street theatre and interactive talk shows which will be held at a host of venues to make the performances available to all parts of the city. Art Festival comprises exhibition of works by artists or repute, a craft fair and craftspersons at work, an exhibition of photographers consisting of photographs of the city and its people, a film festival comprising documentaries and features on VHS, public art projects which will include temporary or permanent works in the form of sculpture, murals, billboards etc.; an art seminar, exhibition of truck and billboard art; painting of a circular railway train for a tour of the city; sand castle building competitions, workshops for children during Heritage Building events etc. A shopping festival aims at putting everything in Karachi on discounted prices—making it the most attractive shopping destination. The sea festival aims at conducting maritime activities e.g. sailing, boating, visits to naval establishments including ships, trips to various islands etc.

Tours are a very important part of the festival and many tour operators under the guidance of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation are organizing tours to familiarize visitors with a host of Karachi's attributes—its beaches and marine life, its bustling traditional bazaars, its ethnic cuisine, its cultural heritage etc.

 

Seminars and workshops will be conducted throughout the month of September and at least one event of each festival will use a heritage building as its venue.

 

Outline of KK01 FESTIVAL

Pre-September 2001 Events

 

March 11 – August 26

 

Heritage Streetfests:

In front of a different set of historic buildings which received extensive Media coverage and is attended by VIP guests.

  • Karavan Karachi Signature Roll
  • Karavan Karachi Painting Programme  

June – September

 

Community Participation Programme:

The following programmes were conducted prior to September 2001 in 5 divisions of District West in Phase 1 of the programme. Phase 2 was in District South, Phase 3 in District East, Phase 4 in District Malir and Phase 5 in District Central. District West has a historical background of 800 years. District West comprises of 5 sub-districts Manghopir, Orangi Town, Baldia Town, SITE, Harbour. Each sub-district consists of 35-40 mohallas.

 

Sports Programme:

  • Football Tournaments between each mohallah team
  • Cricket Tournaments between each mohallah team
  • Cycle Race
  • Donkey Cart Race
  • Malakhra
  • Karate

Environmental Improvement and Social Uplift Programme:

  • Best House
  • Best Mohallah
  • Best Buzurg (Elderly Person)
  • Best Homemaker
  • Best Baby

Memorabilia and Other Items:

  • Tour bus for children
  • Artists’ Postcard
  • Artists’ Catalogue
  • City Posters
  • Web Insertions
  • Adopt-a-Historic Building Programme
  • Painting carriages of Circular Railway
  • Presence at Quaid-e-Azam International Airport

KK01 FESTIVAL 

September 2001 Events

 

Carnival Parade                                                                       September 1

 

With a large number of floats, Heritage Streetfest participants, music groups on roads on the periphery of Quaid-e-Azam Mausoleum there was a ceremony at the Mazaar with large number of dignitaries performing the ribbon cutting and the participation of spectators in large numbers.

 

Heritage Festival (2nd – 7th September): The first festival to start of this mega-event was the Heritage Festival in which the following activities were incorporated:

 Builders of the City Exhibition (entailed): The Builders of the City Exhibitions were held to highlight the contribution of eminent men and women belonging to the Christian, Hindu, Parsi and Muslim faiths. For these exhibitions material from archives is being collected which was exhibited during the Heritage Festival.

 

Heritage Streetfests on the pattern of pre-September Heritage Streetfests

 

Light and Sound Shows: These were held in front of historic buildings of Karachi to draw attention to the history and culture of Karachi.

 

Theatre: by school children

 

Archival exhibition: In this Exhibition all archival material which shows the development of the city and its watershed events from mid 19th century to the end of the 20th century were displayed. The material included antiquarian maps, old photographs, picture postcards, newspaper clippings and records.

 

Food Festival ( 5th – 9th September):

The food festival was meant to highlight the food industry in the city of Karachi and all that it has to offer to the epicurean. True to its name the food festival brought to light the cosmopolitan character of Karachi. The Food Festival consisted of an International food Mela, Karachi Food Melas at various locations, a Goan/Portugese Food Mela and a Seafood Mela and celebration of the traditional food streets of the city. In addition to these there was a Culinary Competition and a Culinary Seminar. Waiter Race?/Dinner Theatre.   

 

Green Festival (10th -12th September):

The Green Festival was meant to show that even a city made of concrete can have an aesthetic sense which expressed itseIf in The Green Festival which included Ikebana demonstrations and Tree Plantation at various venues. Exhibitions by Horticultural Society were held during the festival as well as Street Beautiful and Beautiful Roundabouts Competitions. An Indigenous Plant Exhibition was also held at Rangoonwala Hall.

 

Film Festival

The Film Festival encompassed a Film Seminar, the KaraFilm Festival which was initiated in this festival, KaraFilm Festival awards and finally a 4-day Film Workshop. 

 

Music Festival:

Amongst all the cultural cuisine that Karachi has to offer, Music is one of the most delectable. It was to celebrate this vast repertoire of the music of Karachi that the Music Festival was held. The music catered to all tastes as it ranged from Pop music to Classical and semi-classical to film music to folk to Qawwali to instrumentals and gave the public a chance to participate in the activity by means of Public Pop Talent Contest. The venues for  most of these functions were the heritage sites of Karachi such as Frere Hall and the Hindu Gymkhana. Classical dance performances too were a part of this Festival.

 

Theatre Festival (15th – 22nd September):

The Theatre Festival was the brainchild of Mr. Sohail Malik, Theatre Committee Chair. It had three components, theatre by school children and theatre performances by professional theatre companies and these were of two types: street theatre and proscenium theatre. A total of 90 theatrical performances in the month of September were organized and performed.  The theatre festival also included theatre for children and a Puppet Show.

 

Literary Festival (16th -20th September): Karachi Literary Mela included a book bazaar as well as book reading in Urdu and vernacular Gujrati and Sindhi literature.

 

Fashion Festival (20th -24th September):

The Fashion Show included a wide variety of genres of fashion as represented by the Show given below:

Bridal Show (Mohatta/Hindu Gymkhana)

Cultural Show (Manora)

Fashion Gala Evening (Frere Hall)

Fashion Presentation (KPT)

Street Fashion (Zamzama)

Most activities under this festival were held at various heritage sites namely the Mohatta Palace, Manora, Frere Hall, KPT building.

 

Arts Festival (23rd – 29th September):

Exhibitions in all Art Galleries. This Festival also included an Art StreetFest in which artisans exhibited and produced their crafts and work on the spot, a photographic exhibition and an Art Seminar.

 

Sea Carnivals (27th – 29th September): Sea Carnivals held at the  PAF Sailing Center.

 

Sports/Sea Festival:

Mini-Festivals:

Manora Festival (seafood, music, light and sound show)

Baba Bhit Festival (seafood, music, sailing boat race)

Shamspir Festival (seafood, music sailing boat race)

Island Festival (seafood, music and sailing boat race)

These Festivals were held to celebrate Karachi’s most important asset; the sea. The locations were exquisite, such as the island of Manora, with people being regaled by seafood and music and sailing boat races to show how much fun the sea can be.

 

Vintage Cars: A Vintage Car rally was held from the Quaid-e-Azam’s Mazar to Jehangir Kothari Parade on the 11th of September, 2002. 30 vintage cars participated in this race.

 

Grand Finale (30th September): A strip of beach was selected for the Grand Finale where a Mega Beach Mela was held with, Music Bands, Food Festivities and Giant cutouts of Historic Buildings as backdrop. It ended with a Firework display at Oyster Rocks.