KARACHI: Ngabuburit which literally means doing leisure activities prior to iftar has become the tradition in Indonesia where the people spend their afternoon having fun with friends and families, doing gathering activities, culinary tours in food street bazaars, and engaging in other social activities to pass the last few hours before breaking of the fast in Ramadan.
Like the Indonesian people in their native homeland, Indonesian Consulate General in Karachi also held “Ngabuburit” programme for Indonesian nationals in Sindh Province, Pakistan amidst the current Covid-19 pandemic situation since the first day of Ramadan, Saturday (26/4). Following the social and physical distancing #stayathome, this activity is packaged in a virtual meeting through the Zoom Application and live on Official Facebook Page of the Indonesian Consulate General where the speakers deliver lectures on Islamic studies “NGOPI – NgobrolPerkaraIman” or virtual dialogue on articles of Islamic Faith, Virtues of Ramadan, and other topics related to Islam before breaking the fast in Ramadan.
A large number of people participated in the event, including staffs of the Indonesian Consulate General and their families, Indonesian students of Jamia Binoria International Karachi (JBIK) and JamiaIbnu Abbas, as well as Indonesian nationals in Sindh Province. The NGOPI programme held today’s afternoon (9/5)was about “Zakat as an Instrument in Overcoming Social Inequalities”. This program is designed interactively through presentation of the topic followed by question& answer session from participants.
At the first NGOPI Programme held on Saturday (26/4), Indonesian Consul General in Karachi, Totok Prianamto expressed his best wishes to all Indonesian nationals in Sindh Province on the happy occasion of Ramadan Mubarak and appealed the Indonesian nationals to observe fasting as a means to increase faith and devotion to the Al-Mighty ALLAH. Indonesian Consul General also called upon Indonesian nationals to follow guidelines and directives issued by the Pakistan Government as well as Indonesian Government amid the threat of the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, Indonesian Consul General appealed all Indonesian nationals to nurture bonds of friendship and strengthen unity among them under the common frame of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).
This virtual event is carried out twice a week, on every Saturday and Sunday at 4 pm to 5 pm during Ramadan in collaboration with the Indonesian Student Association (PPMI) in Karachi. The event receives positive response from the Indonesian nationals and has been quite appreciated in providing better understanding on many issues related to Islam as well as a means of communication among Indonesian nationals in Sindh Province.
