Lahore : GODH Lahore, a social organization working for the protection and promotion of children’s rights, organized its annual Gypsy Cultural Peace Festival at HRCP auditorium.
The event witnessed active participation from a large number of children, women, and families belonging to nomadic and marginalized communities.
For the past 25 years, GODH Lahore has been working dedicatedly for the welfare and empowerment of nomadic (Gypsy) children and women without any discrimination. Speaking on the occasion, the head of the organization, Nazir Ahmad Ghazi, stated that according to independent estimates, more than 8 million nomadic people are currently living in Pakistan. In Lahore alone, over 15 nomadic groups are settled, while more than 30 such groups exist across the country.
Prominent among these communities are Changar, Oddh, Bhatto, and Marrassi. These groups are traditionally engaged in livelihoods such as waste collection, playing musical instruments like dhool and Garhvi, livestock rearing, brick-making, and performing with animals (commonly referred to as Qalandars). However, their children often face severe challenges, including lack of
access to education and vulnerability to child labor.
Renowned personalities from the film, television, and theatre industry addressed the participants of the festival. These included internationally recognized actors Syed Tanveer Hussain, Allah Rakha (Pepsi), and famous Punjabi poet Baba Najmi, who highly appreciated the initiative and congratulated the organizers and participants for successfully holding such a meaningful cultural event.
A large number of individuals from social, political, and media circles also attended the festival, including Aamir Sohail, Naseem Ahmed, and social and political activist Saqlain Yousaf, who expressed their support for the cause and praised the efforts of GODH Lahore.
Prominent social sector professionals and activists, including Dr. Noor-ul-Zaman, Naeema Begum, and Faheema Begum, also participated in the event and shared their views on the importance of inclusive development and the empowerment of marginalized communities.
The festival further witnessed participation from academia, including faculty members from the University of the Punjab, particularly from the Department of Mass Communication, along with a large number of students who actively engaged in the program and appreciated its cultural and social significance.
Nazir Ahmad Ghazi further emphasized that GODH Lahore is committed to ensuring access to education, healthcare, protection, and other fundamental rights for nomadic children and women.
To achieve this, the organization is providing schooling and basic health facilities in selected nomadic settlements.
The primary objective of the festival was to raise awareness among government institutions and other segments of society that, if provided with skill-based education and training, these marginalized communities can become productive contributors to the national economy.