DUBAI // Pakistani university students celebrated their country's National Day in traditional style yesterday with dancing and cricket.
More than 100 young people, many in national dress, packed into a hall room at the University of Wollongong in Knowledge Village as Pakistani pop music blared out.
Pictures of the nation's founding father, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and makeshift flags adorned the walls.
Javeria Shamim, the president of the Pakistan Students Association, said it was the first time National Day celebrations had been held at the university. "We have plays depicting important scenes from our history and urging young people to do something that will be positive for the country."
Festivities kicked off with a short speech by Mobisher Rabbani, a businessman and philanthropist, who encouraged the students to take up voluntary work.
That was followed by plays, henna painting and dancing. A large screen was also set up to show Pakistan beat the West Indies in their quarter-final match of the Cricket World Cup.
[ nhanif@thenational.ae ]