LAHORE – Keeping the spirit alive on this long weekend, as Quaid-e-Azam Day and Christmas coincided, Lahoris turned to parks, cinemas and restaurants to celebrate. It was a mixed feeling, as many celebrated Christmas, while the other celebrated the birth anniversary of our nation’s founder Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
Various events were organized in the city on the occasions. Locals were seen turning to parks and other recreational hubs around the city. Major parks and playgrounds of Lahore which include the Lahore Zoo, Shalamar Garden, Jinnah Garden, Gulshan Iqbal Park, Race Course Park and Model Town Park witnessed a good turnout. People from all walks of life were seen enjoying the weekend.
Living up to the reputation of a tasteful appetite, the most known food hub of Lahore, the MM Alam Road, was crowded and hotels and restaurants were packed with visitors. Children enjoyed rides in Joyland play area in the Cantonment.
“We wanted to go to Jallo Park too but it was too far away,” said little Sunita Joseph. Most of the cinemas started functioning after mid-day but remained houseful for the rest of the day. “We always expect this much people on a day like this,” said Nadeem, a ticket collector. Amaan Robert a UK student said, “There is no place like home, I flew all the way from Cardiff to celebrate this Christmas with my family here in Lahore.” Hafiz Asif Rehan, a student of MPhil at PU told Pakistan Today, “Leisure is always a great pleasure and I am going to celebrate this weekend with my friends.”
Ali Sher, a resident of Model Town said, “It was a long awaited weekend as I was busy in my personal consignments earlier and now I am going to host some friends from Islamabad and visit the Jahangir’s tomb as well.” Kashif Basra said, “Although winter is on its full swing but free days are a blessing and I will take my kids to the Zoo”.
A kid Fida, while celebrating Christmas with his family, said, “I am feeling great with my family here and it’s a nice recreational place to celebrate Christmas and weekends”.
Security tightened on Christmas:
Security remained on high alert during the special prayers offered in around 513 churches of Lahore. SP security Faisal Rana told Pakistan Today that around 5000 policemen were deployed at different churches of Lahore on Christmas.
He said the churches had been categorized in three modes A, B and C, according to the number of the participants in each church. He said this was the first time that the security was tight around the churches and the minorities were quite happy and felt save.
