Rocking performances coupled with shouts, shrieks, dances and joy has marked the Bonfire Night of the Government College University Lahore held at its Amphie Theater.
Noted industrialist and GCU Endowment Fund Executive Committee President Iqbal Z. Ahmed inaugurated the event by lighting up the fire while Punjab Education Minister and Old Ravian Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, US Consul General Carmella Conroy, US Consulate Public Affairs Officer Jennifer Larson and a large number other dignitaries also attended the Bonfire Night. Famous singers including Shafqat Amanat Ali, Arif Lohar, Annie, Jassie, Amnat Ali Khan and music bands including Raga Boys and Call rocked the Bonfire Night with their popular pop tracks.
The Bonfire, organised by GCU Welfare Society under its fund-raising and awareness campaign "Help the Helpless", was kicked off with medley singing performance of two twin sisters Rida and Nida who are students of BSC (Hons) at GCU. The Qawali on all-time hit song "Inn Ankhon Ki Masti Ka" presented by GCU Welfare Society students added fuel to the fire. The traditional dance by five Baloch students and Michel Jackson dance by Basir Ahmed, a student of intermediate, were also met with loud applause. A skit by a student of GCU, Ahmed Sahi, in which he did the parody of noted politicians, remained the most popular performance of the night. GCU students Hassan Maqsood and Imran Fida also sang at the Bonfire Night.
The Amphie Theatre resounded with shouts, whistles and shrieks when Shafqat Amanat Ali, who is also an Old Ravian, reached the stage. He could not escape an unscheduled live performance due to popular demand of the House and his old friends of GCU. Shafqat gave his performance with his famous song "khamaaj", "terey naina" and "Mitwaa". A thirty-second silence was also observed for the sad demise of the son of Jamil Fakhri on the request of Shafqat.
Arif Lohar also gave sizzling performance in its traditional folk style, which was very much enjoyed by the US diplomats. The event was also marked by various fun games including Musical Chairs, Balloon Busting and Pass the Parcel. GCU Welfare Society adviser Dr Khalid Manzoor Butt said that GCU does not only lead in research and academic activities, but also provides opportunities to its students to make healthy enjoyments.
He said that the best thing about Bonfire is that students by attending it also supported a cause to help the deserving students who cannot afford their academic expenses. All the proceedings that GCU Welfare Society has generated through Help the Helpless campaign would be spent on deserving students. Later, Iqbal Z. Ahmed announced a donation of Rs 200,000 for the GCU students' fund-raising campaign for students.-PR