to many places but has found Canada as the best country. He said he is proud of his choice and has no regrets.
PROCEEDINGS: The function started right on time with recitation of the Holy Quran. The kids presented national anthems of Canada and Pakistan. They also presented poem and papers on Canada. Quiz and painting contests and fashion show were also held. Prizes were given to the winners and participants. The kids were fully encouraged and given opportunity to express their feelings about Canada. This was one of the main objectives of the function. Over 100 children took part this year and next year their number would be greatly increased. The participation and encouragement of children are being realized and practically implemented in order to prepare them for the future.
The Canada Day celebration’s first part concluded with cake cutting ceremony. All the distinguished guests took part in the ceremony.
MUSHAIRA: The second part of the celebration was a Mushaira. It was held to pay tribute to Late Mrs Sarfraz Iqbal, mother of Ghalib Iqbal, Consul General of Pakistan in Toronto. He was also the chief guest on the occasion. Dr Syed Taghi Abedi, a renowned scholar, was the MC.
The distinguished personalities, who were also renowned scholars and poets, present on the stage were Dr Qamar Raees, Dr Shahid Maholi, Prof Ali Ahmed Fatmi, all three of them internationally famed Urdu authorities from India, Syed Iftikhar Haider, Karamatullah Ghori, Abdur Rehman Siddiqui. Seema Hashmi was also seated. Dr Qamar Raees presided over the Mushaira. Muneef ashar, Afzal Imam and Nasreen Syed also took part in the Mushaira. The selected gathering enjoyed the Mushaira very much as they got the chance to listen to all of them.
Dr Qamar Raees, Dr Shahid Maholi and Prof Ali Ahmed Fatmi thanked Shahid Hashmi and Seema Hashmi for their great and memorable hospitality and for honouring them as guests in their house. They were treated as family members and also shown almost all places of Toronto.
VOTE OF THANKS: Shahid Hashmi in the end thanked the participants and team members for helping make both the Canada Day Celebration and the Mushaira a great success.
I THANK THE ALMIGHTY FOR HIS BLESSINGS AND MY SUCCESS
DEDICATED TO SERVE, CREATE AWARENESS
NOTE: WITH PERMISSION TO ETHICALLY PRINT, USE AND FORWARD.
Javed Zaheer (Masters in International Relations), Canadian of Pakistani Origin (CPO), Professional Freelance Journalist, Veteran Active Member (VAM) of Toronto Press Club, Member of The Ontario Club, Member of National Ethnic Press & Media Council of Canada (NEPMCC), Council Member of Karachi Press Club (Pakistan), served as Senior Sub-Editor of Pakistan’s leading English Daily DAWN (1986-1999). Associated with Journalism Profession since 1974 and believes in fierce and free expression.
Address: 1709-35 Thorncliffe Park Drive, Toronto, Ontario, M4H 1J3, Canada. Tel # (416) 696-0981. Email:
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