PESHAWAR, Aug 01 (DNA):A lively mango party arranged by Peshawar Press Club (PPC) served as a source of delight and elation for duty pressed journalist community by bringing smiles on their faces and jollity for the family members especially children. Majority of the journalists gathered at Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday evening to enjoy mango party organized by the club’s cabinet.
The event received warn response as large number of journalists along with their families arrived at the club in afternoon, bracing sultry weather.
“The decision taken by Peshawar Press Club of holding mango festival was aimed at providing a source of recreation to newsmen and their families at this time of mental stress due to nature of their job and financial stress caused by price hike and loss of jobs for news industry employees,” comments Arshad Aziz Malik, President PPC.
General Secretary, Irfan Mosazai along with other seniors of journalists’ community of Peshawar including M. Riaz, Farman Lala, Rizwan Sheikh, Ghaffar Baig and others received arriving families to PPC.
At the festival stalls were set up separately for provision of sweet mangoes to newsmen and their families.
“The main objective of the mango party is to provide an opportunity of get together to families of our journalists who can meet here and have fun while eating sweet mangos,” Arshad Aziz told APP.
Due to nature of job of media men who are mostly occupied from morning to night in meeting of deadlines set for filing of different stories, cannot manage some outdoor activities for their families, Arshad added.
“Apart from its main task of focusing on welfare of journalist community, its capacity building on modern trends of journalism and protection of their rights, the PPC’s office bearers also concentrate on refreshment of its members and their families by arranging different recreational events, Arshad told APP.
Different activities were arranged at mango festival for entertainment of children including jumping castle and music.
A number of PPC’s members and their families appreciated the idea and thanked Arshad Aziz Malik along with other organizers for providing a source of entertainment to them.
Asmat Shah, a young journalist, termed the event as historic which provided a source of joy to journalist community working in strict working environment.
In prevailing circumstance when the journalist community of KP in particular and Peshawar in general are mostly covering gruesome incidents of suicide bomb attacks and armed attacks on security forces, holding of such event for providing them some relaxation is very timely and need of the hour, Asmat observed.
Children attending the event also expressed their happiness and enjoyment over attending the mango festival.
Female family members also hailed the decision of PPC’s and said such event should be held on regular basis for providing a source of entertainment and amusement to family members, especially children, of journalist community.
The mango party continued till late evening and ended with a note of thanks from participants beside requests to organizers to arrange such gatherings on quarterly basis.
