Flag Hoisting at the Independence Day

To mark the special occasion of 71st Independence Day of Pakistan, a Flag Hoisting ceremony was held at the Pa-kistan High Commission, London on 14 August 2017. The cultural component made the ceremony stunning with the largest gathering ever assembled at the High Commission.

H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK, unfurled the Pakistani flag to the tunes of National Anthem. In his address on the occasion, the High Commissioner felicitated the community in the UK and all Pakistanis around the world. He paid glowing trib-ute to the untiring struggle of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Allama Iqbal and other heroes of the Pakistan Movement.

The High Commissioner said: “Pa-kistan is moving forward despite chal-lenges. Our economy is on an upward trajectory, with 5.4 percent growth this year. All institutions are in place and delivering. We are proud of our armed and civil law enforcement agencies that fought courageously against the extrem-ists and terrorists and restored peace in the country, including Karachi.”

Speaking about the regional peace, the High Commissioner reiterated Paki-stan’s policy of peaceful neighbourhood and resolution of all outstanding issues including the issue of Kashmir. He stated that Pakistan would continue its politi-cal, diplomatic and moral support to the people of Kashmir till they achieve their right to self-determination as enshrined

in the UN resolutions.Many British friends of Pakistan and

representatives of the British govern-ment witnessed the ceremony.Guests were served with brunch of traditional

Pakistani cuisine.Similar Independence Day events

were held at all the four Consulates of Pakistan in Birmingham, Bradford, Glasgow, and Manchester.

H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK called on May-or of London Sadiq Khan at his office, City Hall on 30 August 2017.

Welcoming the High Commissioner at his office, the Mayor of London stated that the connection between London and Pakistan is as strong as ever. He said London benefits from Pakistan and Pa-kistan benefits from London. Mr Khan particularly recognised the positive con-tribution of the Pakistani diaspora in strengthening relations between the two countries.

The two sides discussed broad areas of cooperation between London and Pakistan including business, investment, culture, sports and education. The High Commissioner gave an overview of the economic turnaround in Pakistan and the opportunities offered by the game

changer China Pakistan Economic Cor-ridor (CPEC).

The Mayor shared with the High

Commissioner his plans to make Lon-don an open and attractive destination for businesses, tourists and students.

The High Commissioner appreciated his initiatives as Mayor of London.

Speaking about the 70th Independ-ence Anniversary of Pakistan, the Mayor of London appreciated the celebrations organised by the High Commission and specifically mentioned the London bus-es wrapped with the beautiful images of Pakistan as fantastic.

The meeting ended with an under-standing to step up efforts to further promote business, investment, culture and sports ties. Both sides expressed satisfaction over the level of engage-ment between the Office of the Mayor of London and the High Commission for Pakistan.

The High Commissioner calls on the Mayor of London

London and Pakistan benefit from each other: Mayor of London

The First Lady, Begum Mahmooda Mamnoon Hussain attends UK-APWA Re-Union

The First Lady, Begum Mahmooda Mamnoon Hussain attended the UK-All Pakistan Women Association (APWA), reception as Chief Guest at the Pakistan High Commission London. She was in-vited by Begum High Commissioner Mrs Sadaf Abbas, who is also Patron UK-APWA. The event was held for the Re-Union of UK-APWA Executive

Committee. In her remarks on the occasion, the

First Lady dwelt upon the historical moments of the creation of Pakistan and narrated the challenges that the newly-born state faced successfully. She said creation of APWA was a manifes-tation of our determination to make this country great. The First Lady paid

glowing tribute to the vision and fore-sight of Begum Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan, who founded APWA, to organize and empower the women of Pakistan.

In her welcome address, Begum High Commissioner stated that APWA, over the years, has moved from strength to strength and its work towards women empowerment is ‘outstanding and bril-

liant’. Mrs. Sadaf Abbas emphasized on the need to celebrate the achievements of Pakistani women.

Mrs. Nasim Khan, Chairperson UK-APWA and Executive Committee also spoke on the occasion.

First British woman who conquered K-2, brings Pakistani flag to the High Commission

The Pakistani flag that was raised on K-2 summit, was brought to the Paki-stan High Commission London on 29 August 2017. Vanessa O’Brian, the first British woman who conquered K-2 on 28 July 2017, proudly raised the flags of Pakistan and the UK on the K-2 peak, which is the second tallest in the world.

Vanessa presented the Pakistani flag to H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, the High Commissioner, on 29 August 2017 at a reception organized in her honour at the High Commission.

By completing the round-trip jour-ney from base camp to summit, Vanessa became the first British woman to con-quer K-2, 24 years after Jonathan Pratt became the first British male to do the same in 1993. In her remarks at the High Commission, Vanessa shared the story of her challenging journey to the top of K-2 and spoke about her determination

to accomplish the feat. She fondly nar-rated her experiences in Pakistan as to how much she was impressed by the

people of Pakistan, especially talented youth, their generous hospitality, the pristine beauty of the mountains and

landscape of northern areas, and the economic potential of the country.

Welcoming the mountaineer, the High Commissioner felicitated Vanessa on her singular achievement of becom-ing the first British woman to summit the K-2. He commended her indefat-igable determination and courage to accomplish this difficult adventure. The High Commissioner thanked Vanessa for telling the positive story about Pa-kistan and its people and termed her a goodwill ambassador of Pakistan. He also hoped that Vanessa’s achievement and amazing story would attract many more mountaineers and adventure tour-ists to Pakistan in future.

Women academics from Pakistan visit the High Commission

Hazrat Amir Khusrow remembered at the High Commission

Hazrat Amir Khusrow, the renowned Sufi Muslim musician, poet, and scholar of the 13th century was remembered at the Pakistan High Commission London, on the evening of 17 August 2017.

To commemorate the iconic figure of the cultural history of the Indian sub-continent, the High Commission and Urdu Markaz London jointly organized an evening with Dr Syed Taqi Abedi of Toronto who has written several books on Urdu literature, especially on Hazrat

Amir Khusrow, Allama Iqbal, and Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

Dr. Abedi spoke at length about Khusrow’s influence on his age as well as his relevance in the recent times. He said Khusrow deeply impacted his contemporary literary and music era through originality of his art. Dr. Abedi elaborated Khusrow’s Sufi orientation, mainly acquired from his spiritual guide Hazrar Nizamuddin Auliya. He also dwelt upon the commonalities in the

poetry of Khusrow and Allama Iqbal and said both derived inspiration from the Holy Quran.

Advocate Khalil ur Rehman from New Delhi also spoke on the occasion. He shed light on the influence of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia on the personality of Hazrat Amir Khusrow. He said that Khusrow was a disciple of Nizamuddin Aulia and his entire spiritual life was shaped by his close association with the latter.

Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, Deputy High Commissioner presided over the event. He thanked the speakers for their con-tribution towards promotion of Urdu literature and preserving our cultural legacy.

Dr. Javaid Sheikh, Chairman Urdu Markaz London moderated the event.

A five-member delegation of academ-ia from Critical Thinking Forum (CTF) of the International Islamic University, Islamabad, led by Prof. Dr. Munazza Yaqoob, Department of English, visited the High Commission on 15 August, 2017.

Currently working on an upcoming project entitled “Consciousness Raising of Pakistani Women on Contemporary Academic and Social Issues”, the Pro-ject is being carried out by the Critical Thinking Forum (CTF). Its aim is to empower young women researchers and scholars by equipping them with critical awareness and effective com-munication and professional skills and engaging them in dialogue on important

contemporary academic, social as well as political debates.

Welcoming the delegation, H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, the High Commissioner commended the delegation for their endeavours to empower women of Pa-kistan through education, research, and other necessary skill sets. He stated that Pakistani women equipped with quality education and knowledge of contempo-rary issues can challenge the prevalent stereotypes and change the perception of Pakistan in a much better way.

While in the UK, the team CTF also met with the South Asian and British community to help rectify miscon-ceptions of foreign cultures through people to people interaction. They also

interacted with the intellectuals and academia in the UK during scholarly sessions with them. Other members of the delegation include Sofia Hussain,

Sonia Irum, Summaira Batool Malik, and Sadaf Mehmood.

High achievers from Government Schools of Pakistan received at the High Commission

A group of 25 top achievers of gov-ernment schools from all over Pakistan were given a reception at the Pakistan High Commission, London on 7 August 2017. They participated in the London International Youth Science Forum (LI-YSF).

The students were selected un-der “Science Talent Farming Scheme (STFS)”, a project of Pakistan Science Foundation - Ministry of Science & Technology, Islamabad.

Welcoming the students, H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, the High Commissioner congratulated the students on their academic achievements. He also ap-preciated their dedication, hard work, and commitment to purpose. The High Commissioner hoped that the country would benefit from their knowledge and expertise in future.

The High Commissioner commended the Federal Government’s initiative to

focus on talent hunt from the govern-ment schools from across the country that would ensure equal opportunities for students belonging to all regions of

Pakistan.“Science Talent Farming Scheme

(STFS)” is a fully Government funded project meant for selection of talented

300 students each year from all over Pa-kistan who have passed matriculation from Government schools.

The coffin, wrapped in Pakistani flag, carried by Pakistani soldiers, nineteen cannon shots fired to pay salute and live coverage on all the TV channels of Pa-kistan of a funeral ceremony attended by nobody less than President of Paki-stan Mamoon Hussain, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman and Vice Admiral Zafar Mehmood along with thousands of mourners from all walks of life including Muslim religious leaders gathered at the Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Karachi.

These may appear to be glimpses of a funeral of a head of state but they were not. This was the befitting farewell giv-en by the people of Islamic Republic of Pakistan to their heroine Dr Ruth Pfau, a German Christian missionary who passed away on 10th August after serv-

ing people for nearly 57 years. The state funeral of Dr Ruth Pfau on Saturday proved that the people of Pakistan value those who care for them. As I watched on television, as the state-run and pri-vate television networks of Pakistan broadcast live footage of her funeral, this sight of an exceptional measure for a foreign Christian in this Muslim country overwhelmed my heart and soul.

Every Pakistani has paid tributes to the person who was not born on this soil and practiced a religion different from the majority of population. Prime Min-ister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also paid rich tributes to Dr Pfau stating “Although she was born in Germany, her heart has always been in Pakistan”. The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nafees Zakaria emphasized “the entire Pakistani nation is paying tribute to the extraordinary work of Dr. Pfau, and we will always remember her with fondness, we lost a national heroine.”

The respect and love of people of Pakistan for Sister Pfau was very well deserved. She had devoted her life to fighting leprosy in Pakistan for nearly six decades. She arrived in Karachi in 1960 and complications with her visa (to India) forced her to stay in Pakistan. After visiting lepers, she decided to stay and for almost 50 years she took care, as a doctor, of the most sick and poor of the city.

My heart moves to see befitting farewell to Dr RuthPfau

In collaboration with the government of Pakistan, Ruth Pfau had helped open leprosy centres in nearly 150 cities in Pakistan, trained physicians, assisted thousands of victims, and helped de-velop a national program in order to control the epidemic, which had earned her high distinctions in Pakistan.

I feel happy that it is not after her death she earned the recognition, she

was decorated with highest honours and awards of Pakistan in her life time.

(The writer is a British Pakistani pol-itician, educationist and councillor for the last ten years and first Asian to be-come Mayor of Rugby in 1981)

By Dr Cllr James Shera(Sitara-e-Pakistan, MBE)

Dr Ruth Pfau

Award winning NED University Team welcomed at the High Commission

The students of NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi won “Breakthrough Award” on building an outstanding car in an annual Formula Student competition in London. To cele-brate their achievement, the 16-member group, named ‘Team Formula Fusion’ was given a reception at the Pakistan High Commission on 03 August 2017.

Welcoming the students, H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, the High Commissioner, appreciated the team work demonstrat-ed by the students during the prepara-tion and competition. He was impressed by their passion to work for the scien-tific and technological advancement of Pakistan.

The students of NED University team worked tirelessly for two years to rep-resent Pakistan at the world’s largest student motorsport competition in the

UK. The team built an outstanding for-mula student car that competed with 85 leading international engineering universities from 65 countries. They secured “Breakthrough Award” which has been introduced for the very first time in this mega competition. The students not only managed to secure extensive appreciation from renowned judges of motorsports but also received appreciation memento of a BMW F1 aerodynamic part from F1 specialist William Toet.

Formula Student is a student engi-neering competition held annually in the UK. Student teams from around the world design, build, test, and race a small-scale formula style racing car. The cars are judged on a number of criteria.

New building for Pakistan Consulate in Bradford

H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK inaugurated the new Consulate Building in Bradford on 16 August 2017. The inauguration ceremony was attended by members of the community, Mayors, Councillors, business persons, media representatives and professionals. Naz Shah MP also attended the event.

The High Commissioner praised the new facility and got very positive feed-back from the Community. Addressing the community, he applauded their im-portant role in the socio-cultural and economic fields in the UK.

During his visit to Bradford, the High Commissioner met with Abid Hussain, Lord Mayor of Bradford, Susan Hinch-cliffe, Leader of Council and other rep-

resentatives of the Council in the City Hall of Bradford on 17 August 2017. Twinning of Bradford with a city of Pa-kistan discussed. Imran Hussain MP

also joined the meeting.The High Commissioner stated that

Pakistan is keen to develop stronger business and trade ties with the UK in the wake of Brexit when Britain would be seeking new markets outside the EU. He invited the British businesses to take benefit of the trade and economic op-portunities available in Pakistan, espe-cially at a time when implementation of the project envisaged in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has started.

The High Commissioner also met with Younis Chaudhry, CEO Regal Foods, CEO of Welcome to Yorkshire, Ron McMillan and the senior manage-ment of ‘Institute of Directors’ (IOD) in Leeds.

Consul General Ahmad Amjad Ali accompanied the High Commissioner in his meetings.

Mr. Mumtaz Ali Shah, Secretary Ports, and Shipping Pakistan met with Mr. Kitack Lim, Secretary General, Inter-national Maritime Organization (IMO), on the sidelines of 118th Session of IMO Council in London. Commodore Raja Rab Nawaz, Defence and Naval Adviser at the Pakistan High Commission Lon-don accompanied the Secretary.

During the meeting, Mr. Shah ap-prised the Secretary General of the steps taken by Pakistan vis-à-vis implemen-tation of various IMO instruments and treaties. He also highlighted Pakistan’s sustained commitment in combating maritime terrorism and piracy at sea.

Mr. Shah made a mention of the Joint

Cooperation with International Maritime Organization discussed in London

Maritime Information and Coordina-tion Centre (JMICC) established in 2012 to harness efforts of all relevant national agencies and a number of international stakeholders to improve maritime se-curity and to coordinate effectively for prevention of any illegal activity in the maritime domain.

Practical measures taken towards im-proving the maritime environment and the regular conduct of World Maritime Day to create awareness amongst masses also came under discussion.

Secretary General appreciated the steps taken by Pakistan and hoped that Pakistan would continue to participate as an effective member of IMO in future.

PhD spot for 18-year-old British Pakistani graduate

Imran Nasim, at the young age of 18, from Burgess Hill, has been offered a PhD spot in Physics at the University of Surrey. He has just received his first-class honours degree in Mathematics and Physics (BSc) while other school kids of his age waited anxiously for their A Level results.

Imran enrolled in the Open Universi-ty aged 14 and graduated a month ago. He said: “I am really proud and it is very encouraging to be offered a Ph.D. spot, which I have accepted and will start in September 2017. I worked really hard on my degree, so it feels great. My as-piration is to go into academia – I am very excited.”

Imran’s father, Tariq Nasim, 54, has been a tutor for the past 30 years. He has home schooled all of his children.

Mr Imran Naseem with his family, from left ; Michelle (mother), Adam 21 (brother), Imran (18), and Tariq Naseem (father)

Independence Day Activities at the Pakistan Consulates

Manchester

Birmingham

Glasgow

Given Pakistan’s rich cultural her-itage, it is not a surprise that there are many festivals across the year marking the significant milestones that affect the community.

Festivals inject life and vigour into communities all over the country and keep traditions alive for future genera-tions. What used to be once small events have now become significant tourist at-tractions. Here are some from across the country.

Starting in Sindh is the most recent of these festivals – Sindhi Cultural Day

or Ekta Day as it is known is held in the first week of December. Many will wear the traditional Ajrak and Topi and there are mega musical events and cultural shows all over the province

Punjab has no shortage of festivals but the Horse and Cattle Show in March each year is definitely one to visit. It was first held in 1954, and includes cattle races & dances, tent pegging, folk mu-sic, cultural floats and traditional folk games.

Then there is the Sibi Mela in Ba-lochistan. Held in February in this his-toric town the festival traces its roots

to the 15th century. Like in Punjab, it showcases the culture of the province with similar displays of races and hand-icrafts but in the more dramatic open surroundings of having the mountains to the north and desert to the south.

The most colourful of the festivals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is that of the Kalash Spring festival of Joshi in May where this tribe celebrates the coming of spring with much dancing and mer-riment as they offer thanks and pray for a successful year ahead.

For Gilgit-Baltistan the highlight is

the Shandur Polo Festival in July where teams from Gilgit and Chitral compete for the coveted trophy over three days. During the day there are cultural shows from both Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan as the pass marks the boundary between them. The evening will easily take you into the early hours with much singing and dancing long after the polo has finished.