One of the most prominent community organisations of Pakistani expatriate in Qatar, Sohni Dharti Al Khor is all set to see off its locally organised cricket tournament, Pakistan Cricket League (PCL) in style. The organisers are holding a colourful closing ceremony and prize distribution on Saturday after the final match of the tournament in Al Khor.
The Sohni Dharti PCL 2016 comprising six teams was styled on Pakistan Super League (PSL) currently underway in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Five teams in the tournament were named after the five PSL franchises representing the five capital cities of Pakistan. However, the Sohni Dharti PCL 2016 also featured Gilgit Elevators.
The finalists will be decided today (Friday) after the two semi-finals between Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United, and Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings.
The hotly contested tournament was witnessed by scores of cricket-lovers residing in Al Khor community and outside. Sohni Dharti had launched the cricket extravaganza in style too. A grand bazaar featuring mandarin festival and fresh Pakistani fruits and vegetables directly imported from Pakistan was held at New Football Field Al Khor Community earlier this month.
The festival attended by a large number of Pakistani expatriates featured one of the best mandarin varieties (kinnow) from Pakistan. Kinnow, widely grown in the Punjab province, is exported to many countries of the world.
“We got the kinnow imported fresh from Pakistan and all our fruits and vegetables arrived on the day of festival fresh from Pakistan. The visitors of the festival were happy to find some of the best quality kinnow in Qatar,” Anwar Ali Rana, President Sohni Dharti, told Community.  
The kinnow is hybrid of high yield citrus cultivars, King and Willow Leaf, first developed by Howard B. Frost at the University of California Citrus Experiment Station. After evaluation, the kinnow was released as a new citrus hybrid for commercial cultivation in 1935.
The fruit matures in January or February. It peels easily and has high juice content. Most of the target export markets of the Pakistani kinnow are those of developing countries. About 61 percent of total world exports of oranges and mandarins are of seedless varieties.
Besides the mandarin, the festival also offered visitors the traditional Pakistani cuisine besides ingredients for the typical Pakistani dishes found in different areas. Other Pakistani products such as clothes were also put on display for the visitors.
Ambassador of Pakistan to Qatar Shahzad Ahmad was the chief guest at the festival and the opening ceremony of the cricket tournament. Speaking to the community members ambassador Ahmad appreciated the efforts of Sohni Dharti for its initiatives, providing expats opportunity to bond over some delicious Pakistani food.
“We annually organise the mango festival here at Al Khor. This year we thought we will have a mandarin festival as well and the response from the people was very encouraging. It was a capacity event and visitors appreciated the products,” said Rana.
The Saturday’s closing ceremony of the PCL 2016 will be followed by another mega event by Sohni Dharti called Future Leaders Programme. Renowned scholar and motivational speaker Dr Shoukar Chandna will speak to children and youth of the Al Khor Community.
A regular feature of Sohni Dharti annual activities calendar, the format of the programme also allows the participating children to share their learning experiences and give their input. In the programme the participants will be shown a motivational video which will be followed with a discussion on video.
There will be speeches from the participants before the keynote speech on the topic of successful parenting. The PCL 2016 organising committee included Zaheer Khan, Muhammad Qasim and Nassoh Akhter while the Sohni Dharti executive committee members include Shabbit Siddiqui, Gulzar Hussain, Azmat Ali, Zubair Rabnawaz and Javaid Alvi.  
The main objectives of the Sohni Dharti are to promote cultural, social and sports activities for Pakistanis residents of Al Khor Community, develop the talents of Pakistani children in education, culture and sports, contribute in welfare and development of community, especially to promote the preservation of environment of community and surroundings and integrate Pakistani community with other nationalities of Al Khor community.
Membership of Sohni Dharti is open to the people of Pakistani origin residing in Al Khor community, and to Qatargas and Rasgas employees living in Doha as well.