FLI helps Shina Migrant People Get Together in Rawalpindi

FLI provided support to Shina Migrant community memebers living in Rawalpindi and Islamabad to come together and celebrate their culture last weekend. More than a thousand people, including families participated in the event. Participants danced to the tunes of their language. They spoke for revival of their language by using it at home while living out of their native place, they delivered speeches in their language.

The main objective of this event was to organize the migrant people of Shina community living in a urban areas and motivate them to maintain and continue their language and culture so that they stay connected with their identity.

FLI helped Shina Bayak, the newly formed organization aiming to revive Shina language in urban areas to organize this event. The participants were students, professionals, and elders of community. Youth from seven Shina-speaking districts in Gilgit-Baltistan received praise from the audience for their traditional songs and dances. The traditional dance chain started from Diamer district and ended by reaching Panyal Valley. The audience applauded all the performers heartily. The different segments the different speakers elaborated the importance of maintaining language and culture while residing out of their native place. The chief guest of the event, Major General (R) Naseem Baig applauded the cultural diversity of GB and praised the people to maintain their language and culture.

All the participants presented a joint cultural dance of GB. FLI and other organizers were appreciated for their support to organize such giant event. They also asked for such events to be held on annual basis.