A healthy dose of fun at Pakistan Day festivities in Dubai

DUBAI // More than 20,000 people are expected to take part in this year's Pakistan Day celebrations.

A wide range of activities, including free health checks, have been organised by the Pakistan Association Dubai in the run-up to the main event on March 23.

"This will be the biggest celebration we have had," said Faisel Ikram, the general secretary of the association. "The theme of these celebrations is about encouraging the youth in our society to be healthy and contribute in a positive way to the country."

The festivities, which start on Sunday, are split into a variety of activities, the centrepiece of which will be the Pakistan Mela and Meena Bazaar at the PAD Centre in Bur Dubai.

There will be free medical check-ups on March 23, with staff from clinics and hospitals on hand, as well as food and fashion stalls and cultural shows.

"We will have performers on stage for daily shows and there will also be things like eating competitions and magicians," said Mr Ikram.

Running alongside this will be an education fair, with career and academic advice from invited colleges and universities from Pakistan and the UAE.

On March 22 more than 400 students and other members of the Pakistani community will take part in a clean-up at Jumeirah Beach, next to Burj Al Arab.

"We want the youth to take responsibility for the country they live in and better understand the importance of protecting the environment," said Mr Ikram.

"We also have an artist flying in from Pakistan to exhibit their work, which features wooden carvings of 17 national flags.

"Although this is Pakistan National Day, we want people from all nationalities to come along."

A six-a-side cricket tournament has been organised for March 29 but the location has yet to be set.

nhanif@thenational.ae