Sada-e-Watan Sydney ™ - Leading Australian Pakistani Newspaper

Sada-e-Watan Sydney ™
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Mr. Hanif Bismi (President)

MEFF 2022 - Largest Australia’s Eid Festival in Fairfield Showground Sydney
(Exclusive report to Sada-e-Watan by Zia Ahmad)

Famous Politician Senator Kristina Keneally shared the joys of Eid celebration at the 37th annual Multicultural Eid Festival & Fair MEFF on Sunday 15 May 2022 at Fairfield Showground Sydney.

Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad

She acknowledged the contribution of its founder, Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad OAM saying, “his tremendous service to this local community and his passion for bringing interfaith communities together will live on through this wonderful festival that he founded, nearly forty years ago.”

Hon. Kristina Keneally

“In reflecting on Dr Ahmad’s legacy, and indeed the meaning of Eid al-Fitr, I am greatly moved by this act of coming together. Of sharing. Of welcoming. Of meeting across faiths. Of finding what unites us,” she further added.

MEFF, a showcase of Multicultural Australia, that had to be cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions, resumed again this year attracting almost 15,000 people with free entry, rides for big and small and a great variety of food and market stalls.

MEFF has a long track record as one of the legacies of its founders and workers, displaying great resilience, rain, hail or shine, passing on the skills from generation to generation to celebrate Eid through Australian volunteerism in order to put smiles on the faces of young and old in an atmosphere of peace and harmony.

MEFF 2022 was also attended by Greens politician Hon.David Shoebridge as well as Greens Senator Dr Mehreen Faruqi, who was interviewed by SBS Urdu broadcasting live from MEFF on Sunday 15 May from Fairfield Showground.

The New elected President of MEFF, Mr. Hanif Bismi, during his welcome address said, “today, we thank Almighty God for us being here to celebrate the 37th MEEF, a journey that began in 1986 with the far-reaching vision of its founding father, Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad. It is of great sorrow to the Multicultural Australian community that Dr Ahmad passed away on 10 February 2022, but we will continue his legacy with help and support from you.”
“I thank you all distinguished guest for accepting our late invitation and joining us this grand event. Our distinguished guests, Hon Kristina Keneally, former NSW Premier and leader of the

Zia Ahmad

Senate, We are missing Zia Ahmad who is not feeling well and can not attend this year MEFF 2022. Our best wishes for Mr Zia and family.

Mr. Rokibul Islam, Ms. Maha Abdo, Father Patrick and Ms Jaya Chivukula and entire Australian community without your support we cannot run MEFF. This is because MEFF is a not-for-profit volunteer organization and requires your support. However, MEFF is part of Australian Multiculturalism,” Mr Bismi said.
“I personally thank and acknowledge IFEW Islamic Foundation of Education and Welfare, ARO, Australian Relief Organization, ISRA Islamic Science Research Australia, Sajjadia Centre and Alamdar Association sending their volunteers helping us to set up the venue.

Mrs Mehar Ahmad

A minute of silence was observed from the stage at MEFF where Mrs Mehar Ahmad, a co-founder of MEFF and currently President of Seena Inc said, “MEFF day this year, 15 May marked the annual commemoration of Nakba Day, Palestinian Catastrophe that lead to the destruction of Palestinian society and exile from their homeland with the creation of the state of Israel in 1948, and their oppression and suffering ever since. Therefore, while we celebrate in peace, we should also remember those who are suffering because of natural disasters, wars, injustice and oppression.
This year’s Multicultural Eid Festival & Fair was sponsored by Meezan Wealth Management.