Day after hosting Asia’s longest Iftaar, organisers clean up litter

Bismah Malik

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 12

A day after Kashmir made history by hosting Asia’s longest Iftaar, the organisers had no time to rest.

Ahmer Khan, 23, who had innovated the idea of organising the longest Iftaar party along with his colleague Samiullah, took it upon themselves to clean the litter along the banks of the Dal Lake today where the party was organised.

The party was attended by a record number of 3,000 people with Kashmiri carpets decorating the 1.6-km stretch where the guests seated.

Several sections of society had raised questions over arranging the Iftaar party calling it a mere publicity stunt.

“I wasn’t bogged down by the obstacles that a few people created around this event. I had planned to include orphan in the party because it is good to make them a part of the mainstream,” Khan added.

Besides, some people had apprehended that serving so many people on the Dal Lake banks would lead to massive pollution.

“We had hired a few men and some of my friends volunteered to clean the area. We are well aware of how important it is to keep Dal and its surroundings clean. I think this was an answer to our critics,” Khan told The Tribune.

“All negative comments apart, I thought it was a fabulous event and a get together with scenic background that made headlines all over the world. Many countries in Middle East serve people especially from economically weaker sections of society throughout Ramzan. This is what Islam as a faith is all about,” said Mufti Sadia, a woman entrepreneur, who attended the event.