KARACHI, Jan 4: The Sindh Sea Festival 2004-05, being organized by the Sindh government and sponsored by many public and private sector organizations , with the theme of 'Environment' and symbol of 'Green Turtle', is being held from Jan 7 to 9 on the Clifton beach.

Briefing newsmen about the festival, Sindh Minister for Culture, Tourism and Youth Affairs Shabbir Ahmed Qaimkhani said the festival would be colourful, full of entertainment, full of life and the people of Karachi and the interior of Sindh would remember it for a long time.

He said many of the different villages would be prepared in this festival presenting the culture of different areas of Sindh and the activities of different departments of the province.

The awareness among the masses about environment would be created through this festival and the different programs of this event, he added. He said the government wanted to rebuild the image of this city of lights, which was unfortunately damaged during the last few years, and restore its status where the people could live in peace and prosperity.

The Sindh culture department would establish a "Sindh Village" depicting the culture of the province, he said, adding that the visitors could witness different workers of traditional handicrafts working practically in this Sindh Village.

In Agriculture Village different crops, plants, flowers and other things related to agriculture and horticulture would be presented. The Pakistan Navy would set up its own village, where PN mariners holding different kinds of weapons would welcome the visitors. PN air show will be an interesting event of the festival, in which PN helicopters and other planes would take part.

The Navel Band will also be part of the festival and entertain the visitors whole the day. Besides, PN Shifa will also organize a medical camp in the PN Village. The city government, the Sindh Livestock Department, the Fisheries Department, the Export Processing Zone Authority, Pakistan Steel, Karachi Port Trust, Sindh Small Industries Corporation, Pakistan State Oil and many other departments and organizations would set up their own villages in this festival.

Cultural programmes, musical shows, a food street, body building shows, karate shows, trade exhibition, children parade, fire fighting, drill and so many other events would be held during the three-day festival.

A relief camp would also be set up to raise donations for the tsunami-hit people. More than 2,500 students belonging to the city government schools would participate in the sea festival. Ten band groups of students would also participate.

A total of 25 selected paintings on environment would be exhibited on this occasion. The students would participate in speech contests on environment and six top students would be awarded shields and prizes.

Sindh Information Secretary Mehtab Akbar Rashdi said the theme of the festival would create awareness among the masses about protecting the environment of the city and the province and the participants and visitors wearing 'greens' would give the message for greenery and prosperity of the land and the nation.

The organizer of the festival and famous singer Zohaib Hasan, Commodore Tahir Waseem (Pakistan Navy), Ejaz Ali Khan, the city government's EDO for education; Sikandar Ali Kerio, the secretary for fisheries; Ghulam Masood Channa (Wildlife), Shahzad Manzoor (PSO) and others were also present on the occasion. - PPI