The Campbelltown community came together on Saturday, 10th August 2024, to celebrate Pakistan Independence Day at the Greg Percival Community Centre, Ingleburn. Hosted by Young Innovators Australia Inc., the event was a grand showcase of cultural pride, family-friendly activities, and inspiring performances, drawing a crowd of over 200+ attendees.
The day began with exciting games and competitions for children from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Activities such as Musical Statues, Mini Basketball, Lego & Board Games, a Colouring Competition and Skipping Rope Contest kept the younger attendees engaged. Competitions were expertly managed by volunteers, including Shahzeen Ali for Colouring, Eman Ali for Skipping Rope, and Dual Ali for Musical Statues.
Following the games, the formal program commenced at 5:30 pm with a beautiful recitation of Tilawat by Aaliyan Sardar and Translation by Adden Khan. Anas Rahman, a Year 8 student from Al-Faisal College Campbelltown, also recited verses from the Quran.
The event was officially opened by Shafqat Ali, President of Young Innovators Australia, who welcomed all distinguished guests, sponsors, and volunteers. Special thanks were extended to volunteers such as Abdulla Mohammad, Shyyan Ali, Waleed Masood, Ayaan Ali, Naeem Bacha, Gulzar Ali, Huma Shoaib, Mansora Shafqat, Eman Ali, Maham Tippu, Hina Saqib, Mahwish Islam, Sharmeen Ali, Adeel Shakoor, Mahi Islam, Asad Imran, Shahzeen Ali, Muhammad Ibrahim Khan and Naeem Haq whose hard work ensured the success of the event.
A variety of cultural performances captivated the audience, including the student prayer “Lab Pe Aati Hai”. Eman Ali and Zoha Khan delivered a stirring youth speech, highlighting the importance of community events in preserving cultural heritage.
Distinguished guests were present including Pakistan High Commissioner HE Zahid Hafeez Chaudhry who addressed the audience along with Brian Laul (President Rainbow Crossings), Ms Sonali Luthra (Head of Studies, Al-Faisal College Campbelltown) and Cr Masud Khalil. Cr Masood Choudhry and Cr Karen Hunt were among the local dignitaries present. The event also featured messages from notable MPs, including Ms Charishma Kaliyanda (Member for Liverpool) and Mr Nathan Hagarty (Member for Leppington), Mr Greg Warren (Member for Campbelltown) and Anoulack Chanthivong (Member for Macquarie Fields), who sent video greetings celebrating the strong ties between the Pakistani and Australian communities.
One of the evening’s highlights was the performance of the patriotic song Junoon se aur Ishq se Milti Hai Azadi by Ahmed Umer, which brought the spirit of freedom to life. This was followed by Zafar Iqbal’s rendition of Yeh Watan Tumhara Hai and Dil Dil Pakistan by Adeel Shakoor, bringing the audience to their feet with patriotic fervour.
Special prizes were awarded during the evening, including recognition of the most senior Pakistani citizen and the youngest attendee in the hall. The cultural parade, where children showcased traditional attire representing Pakistan’s diverse provinces, was another highlight, ending with a group photo to commemorate the moment.
Mr Shayyan Ali from the Young Innovators Club, talked about Young Innovators Australia’s performance last year. He also shared information about the upcoming FREE Robotics Show in Campbelltown and Treasure Hunt Game in Wander on Q.
Dinner was provided by Shahzaib Sultan Catering, featuring a selection of traditional Pakistani dishes, served with great care to all attendees. The Pakistan Independence Cake was also cut at the end by the ladies. The night concluded with a lucky draw, offering a variety of prizes to those who participated.
This year’s Pakistan Independence Day celebration in Campbelltown was a memorable event, filled with joy, cultural pride, and community spirit. It served as a powerful reminder of the strength of the Pakistani-Australian community and the importance of preserving heritage for future generations.
For all the images check this Facebook Post. https://www.facebook.com/PakAussie/posts/pfbid0NAH5zQH9RQcWd9dFvHFtvGh5xnv2q6n5YVpfSFSS1CbZhujaW2MYGZWGyxPzFGg9l
