Newsletter Pakistan Embassy, The Hague

January—June 2014

Prime Minister Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, attended the Nuclear Inside this issue: Security Summit (NSS) held at the Hague, The 24-25 March 2014 Pakistan Festival 2014 2

The Prime Minister of Paki- 24th Ambassador´s 2 stan, Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Cricket Cup Sharif, attended the Nuclear Pakistan Day 3 Security Summit (NSS) held at Celebration the Hague, The Netherlands on 24-25 March 2014. Lead- Sufi Singer Abida Parveen 3 ers from 53 States, as well as at the Holland Festival heads of United Nations Commercial Wing´s 3 (UN), International Atomic Activities Energy Agency (IAEA), Euro- pean Union (EU) and Interpol, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif attending the 3rd NSS at The Hague on 24 March Malala Yousafzai 4 attended the Summit, which 2014. US President Barak Obama and German Chancellor Angela Mercal are also visible . awarded International Children's Peace Prize was presided by Prime Minis- ter of The Neth- cooperation". Pakistan, the participated in a working lunch- Pakistani Community 4 erlands. Prime Minister said, pursued a Interacts with the eon hosted for Foreign Ministers policy of nuclear restraint as Foreign Secretary : 19th Speaking at the inaugural ple- well as credible minimum of NSS participating States. Embassy Community nary session, Prime Minister deterrence. Prime Minister Mr. Fatemi made a statement on Quarterly Meeting reiterated Pakistan's strong Nawaz Sharif also addressed an "Nuclear Risks and International commitment to nuclear secu- informal plenary on the future Security" which was the topic for 26th Pakistan´s Ambas- 4 rity and highlighted Pakistan's of the NSS process as a key luncheon meeting. sador Hockey Trophy contribution to foster a nu- note speaker. MRP Facility Inaugurated clear security culture at the 4 international level. The Prime The Prime Minister attended a Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad in the Embassy Minister told Summit partici- banquet hosted by His Majesty Chaudhry was part of the Prime Pakistani Mangoes Exhibition 4 pants that Pakistan had been Willem-Alexander, King of The Minister's delegation. running a "safe, secure and Netherlands and held bilateral safeguarded civil nuclear pro- meetings with President Fran- The Hague Summit was the third Embassy of Pakistan gramme for more than 40 cois Hollande of France and in the series of the Nuclear Se- The Hague years". Pakistan's nuclear se- Chancellor Angela Merkel of curity Summits. Since 2010, Ambassador Moazzam A. Khan curity, the Prime Minister Germany. The US Secretary of Counsellor-DHM Tariq Karim when the first Summit was held said, is supported by "five State, Mr. John Kerry, also First Secretary – Faraz Zaidi pillars – a strong command called on the Prime Minister. in Washington DC, Pakistan's Amaliastraat - 8, 2514 JC, and control system led by the active and constructive participa- The Hague, Netherlands National Command Authority At the invitation of Dutch For- tion in the NSS process has been Telephone: (+31-70) 3648948/9 (NCA); an integrated intelli- eign Minister, Frans Timmer- widely recognized by the interna- Fax: (+ 31-70) 3106047 gence system; a rigorous manns, Syed Tariq Fatemi, tional community. E-mail: [email protected] regulatory regime; a compre- www.embassyofpakistan.com hensive export control re- Special Assistant to the Prime gime; and active international Minister/ Minister of State,

Prime Minister Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif being recieved by H.M. Willem-Alexander & H.M. Queen Maxima Page 2 Newsletter Pakistan Embassy,

Thousands throng Pakistan Festival 2014; Soft Image of Pakistan promoted through Culture and Cuisine

The 5th Pakistan Festival of . Mela Committee presented a (Mela) was held in Rotterdam The festival had something for special award in honour of on 8 June 2014 by the everyone. Games and Mr. Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Pakistani Dutch community recreational activities for Foreign Secretary in with the support of the children and a wide varity of recognition of his initiatives Embassy of Pakistan. The Pakistani products, food and and services for the festival is a mega annual event clothes for women. The community during his that started in 2010 to cultural performance featured ambassadorial assignement in project the soft image of performance by renowned the Netherlands. The award Pakistan and Pakistani-Dutch artist Megha from Pakistan was recieved on his behalf by community, promoting and local Pakistani children, the Ambassador. harmony and understanding, Songs by Ruby Reshma The festival venue remained and bringing various (Daughter of the late jampacked with spectators communities closer. The lengendry singer Reshma) throughout the day. Families festival boosted goodwill for local Pakistani talent and turned out in large numbers Pakistan and the country’s “Pakistani community has Fashion show by Pakistani to feast on Pakistani food, soft image. The festival designers, culminating in a enjoy traditional and cultural become visible through provided an opportunity to musical evening by the performances and shop the Pakistan Festival in Pakistani and other Famous Pakistani singer Pakistani products. Rotterdam”, Mr. Ahmed communities living in the Netherlands to intermingle Amanat Ali. The Mela reached its climax Aboutaleb, Mayor of and promote inter-cultural The achievements of Pakistani when Amanat Ali entertained Rotterdam. understanding through a fun- Dutch community members the audience with his popular filled day of cultural were recognized through numbers. performances, cuisine and presentation of awards on music. The festival was recommendation of the Mela inaugrated by Ambassador Committee, the awards were Moazzam Ahmad Khan and presented by Ambassador Mr. Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mayor Moazzam Ahmad Khan. The

Ambassador Moazzam Ahmad Khan and Mr. Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mayor of Rotterdam

Pakistani Team wins 24th Pakistan's Ambassador Cricket Cup after a thrilling match

Pakistan's Ambassador Cricket tournament was “Over the years the event played at Voorburb Cricket has successfully promoted Club on 30th May 2014. The Pakistani team won after a the goodwill and thrilling match. understanding between the Pakistani community and All participants greatly appre- ciated the event, which brings the Dutch People”, Jacques Pakistani and Dutch commu- Mulders, President KNCB. nities closer and promotes the positive image of Pakistan. January—June 2014 Page 3

Pakistan Day Celebrated with Enthusiasm and Traditional hospitality at Pakistan House, The Hague

Dutch Government officials, earlier on 23rd March to mark Resident Diplomats and Paki- Pakistan Day. The Reception stani-Dutch community gath- was organized on 27th March ered in large numbers in a in view of the Prime Minis- Reception held at the resi- ter’s Visit to attend the Nu- dence of the Ambassador of clear Security Summit (23-25 Pakistan in The Hague to March 2014). celebrate Pakistan Day. The guests were entertained This was in continuation of with delicious Pakistani dishes the flag-hoisting ceremony and sweets. held at the Pakistan House

Enthralling Performance by Famous Pakistani Sufi Singer Abida Parveen at the Holland Festival

The renowned Pakistani clas- aspect of the performance sical singer Abida Parveen was the enthusiasm displayed performed at the Holland by the Dutch nationals who Festival on 6 June 2014. The danced animatedly to the sufi event was being organized by songs proving that music has a

the Holland Festival with the universal language. support of the Embassy of Pakistan, the Hague. The

theme of the event was Suf- ism. The event was attended by a Ambassador Moazzam Ahmad Khan, large number of Pakistani- Abida Parveen (C) & Justice Madam Dutch community and Dutch Khalida Rashid Khan, ICTY. nationals. The most amazing

Pakistan at Private Label Manufacturers Pakistani Sports Products attract interest Association (PLMA) of Dutch importers

held in The Commercial Wing of the May 20-21, 2014, re- Pakistan Embassy established ceived positive re- a stall of Pakistani Sports sponse from the Euro- goods at the Embassy Hockey pean buyers in the Tournament held on 29 May Netherlands. 2014 in The Hague.

The Pakistan pavilion Information brochures and was set up by the presentations about the Paki- Commercial Wing, stan´s sports goods were Embassy of Pakistan in arranged at the stall. The stall Pakistan Pavilion at Private collaboration with Trade attracted the participants of Label Manufacturers Development Authority of the tournament and Dutch Association (PLMA) trade fair, Pakistan. importers of sports goods. Embassy of Pakistan, PLAIN holds The Hague charity event Pakistan Ladies Malala Yousafzai awarded prestigious Association in the International Children's Peace Prize Netherlands (PLAIN) held a charity event at the Embassy residence on March 2, 2014. The event was organized to support a Pakistan based Pakistani Community Interacts with non-profit organization named Family the Foreign Secretary : 19th Embassy Educational Services Foundation, Community Quarterly Meeting held working in the area of disability- deaf education, advocacy, youth leadership, capacity building and During the Foreign Secretary’s visit to the teacher training. PLAIN donated Netherlands to attend the Nuclear Security Euros 5,000 during the event to the Summit (NSS) held in The Hague, the 19th Educational Services Foundation. Malala Yousafzai was awarded prestigious Embassy Community Quarterly Meeting was held International Children's Peace Prize by Dutch at the Embassy Residence on 26 March 2014. KidRight Foundation at a ceremony in the The meeting, chaired by the Foreign Secretary, Hague. The ceremony was attended by over 400 was attended by Ambassador Moazzam Ahmad guests, including Dutch Prime Minister Mark Khan and representatives of various Pakistani- Rutte. Ambassador Moazzam Ahmad Khan also Dutch community organizations. attended the ceremony. The Foreign Secretary briefed the Pakistani Community regarding the Foreign Policy priorities and steps being taken to promote the welfare of overseas Pakistanis.

Dosty 26th Pakistan´s Ambassador Hockey Trophy

The Embassy, in cooperation Dutch Parliament was repre- Inauguration of MRP Facility in the Embassy with Dutch Parliament, Dutch sented by Mr. Bart De Liefde, Ambassador Moazzam Ahmad Foreign Ministry, and Pakistan Member of Parliament from Khan inaugurated the facility -Dutch community, organized VVD, who also led his team of Machine Readable Passport DOSTY 26th Pakistan’s Am- and displayed wonderful at the Embassy of Pakistan, bassador Hockey Cup on 16 hockey. The Parliament XI The Hague on 23rd June June 2014 in The Hague. The won the trophy. 2014. Prominent members of tournament was played be- the Pakistani Community in tween the teams of Dutch the Netherlands attended the Parliament, Dutch Foreign Office and the Pakistan Com- ceremony. munity. Many Parliamentarians and senior Foreign Office officials played the tourna- Pakistani Mangoes Exhibition In the Hague ment, which was won this 11th annual exhibition of Pakistani Mangoes was held in Hilton year by the Parliament XI. Hotel, The Hague on June 23rd, 2014. The exhibition, organised by the Commercial Wing President of the House of of Embassy, in Representatives of the States collaboration with the General Ms. Anouchka van Trade Development Miltenburg and Secretary Authority of Pakistan, General Ministry of Foreign offered a unique Affairs Ms. Renee Jones Bos opportunity to Dutch sent messages for the Tour- nationals and resident nament which were also in- diplomats for tasting cluded in the impressive more than ten booklet published to mark the varieties of Pakistani event. mangoes.