The High Commissioner calls on the Mayor of London London and Pakistan benefit from each other: Mayor of London H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan High The High Commissioner appreciated Commissioner to the UK called on May- his initiatives as Mayor of London. or of London Sadiq Khan at his office, Speaking about the 70th Independ- City Hall on 30 August 2017. ence Anniversary of Pakistan, the Mayor Welcoming the High Commissioner of London appreciated the celebrations at his office, the Mayor of London stated organised by the High Commission and that the connection between London specifically mentioned the London bus- and Pakistan is as strong as ever. He said es wrapped with the beautiful images of London benefits from Pakistan and Pa- Pakistan as fantastic. kistan benefits from London. Mr Khan The meeting ended with an under- particularly recognised the positive con- standing to step up efforts to further tribution of the Pakistani diaspora in promote business, investment, culture strengthening relations between the two and sports ties. Both sides expressed countries. satisfaction over the level of engage- The two sides discussed broad areas ment between the Office of the Mayor of cooperation between London and of London and the High Commission Pakistan including business, investment, for Pakistan. culture, sports and education. The High Commissioner gave an overview of the changer China Pakistan Economic Cor- Commissioner his plans to make Lon- economic turnaround in Pakistan and ridor (CPEC). don an open and attractive destination the opportunities offered by the game The Mayor shared with the High for businesses, tourists and students. 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 in the UN resolutions. Pakistani cuisine. that Pakistan would continue its politi- Many British friends of Pakistan and Similar Independence Day events cal, diplomatic and moral support to the representatives of the British govern- were held at all the four Consulates people of Kashmir till they achieve their ment witnessed the ceremony.Guests of Pakistan in Birmingham, Bradford, right to self-determination as enshrined were served with brunch of traditional Glasgow, and Manchester. First British woman who conquered K-2, brings Pakistani flag to the High Commission The Pakistani flag that was raised on landscape of northern areas, and the K-2 summit, was brought to the Paki- economic potential of the country. stan High Commission London on 29 Welcoming the mountaineer, the August 2017. Vanessa O’Brian, the first High Commissioner felicitated Vanessa British woman who conquered K-2 on on her singular achievement of becom- 28 July 2017, proudly raised the flags of ing the first British woman to summit Pakistan and the UK on the K-2 peak, the K-2. He commended her indefat- which is the second tallest in the world. igable determination and courage to Vanessa presented the Pakistani accomplish this difficult adventure. The flag to H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, the High High Commissioner thanked Vanessa Commissioner, on 29 August 2017 at a for telling the positive story about Pa- reception organized in her honour at kistan and its people and termed her a the High Commission. goodwill ambassador of Pakistan. He By completing the round-trip jour- also hoped that Vanessa’s achievement ney from base camp to summit, Vanessa and amazing story would attract many became the first British woman to con- more mountaineers and adventure tour- quer K-2, 24 years after Jonathan Pratt ists to Pakistan in future. became the first British male to do the same in 1993. In her remarks at the High Commission, Vanessa shared the story to accomplish the feat. She fondly nar- people of Pakistan, especially talented of her challenging journey to the top of rated her experiences in Pakistan as to youth, their generous hospitality, the K-2 and spoke about her determination how much she was impressed by the pristine beauty of the mountains and The First Lady, Begum Mahmooda Mamnoon Hussain attends UK-APWA Re-Union The First Lady, Begum Mahmooda Committee. glowing tribute to the vision and fore- liant’. Mrs. Sadaf Abbas emphasized on Mamnoon Hussain attended the UK-All In her remarks on the occasion, the sight of Begum Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan, the need to celebrate the achievements Pakistan Women Association (APWA), First Lady dwelt upon the historical who founded APWA, to organize and of Pakistani women. reception as Chief Guest at the Pakistan moments of the creation of Pakistan empower the women of Pakistan. Mrs. Nasim Khan, Chairperson High Commission London. She was in- and narrated the challenges that the In her welcome address, Begum High UK-APWA and Executive Committee vited by Begum High Commissioner newly-born state faced successfully. She Commissioner stated that APWA, over also spoke on the occasion. Mrs Sadaf Abbas, who is also Patron said creation of APWA was a manifes- the years, has moved from strength to UK-APWA. The event was held for tation of our determination to make strength and its work towards women the Re-Union of UK-APWA Executive this country great. The First Lady paid empowerment is ‘outstanding and bril- 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 focus on talent hunt from the govern- Pakistan. 300 students each year from all over Pa- expertise in future. ment schools from across the country “Science Talent Farming Scheme kistan who have passed matriculation The High Commissioner commended that would ensure equal opportunities (STFS)” is a fully Government funded from Government schools. the Federal Government’s initiative to for students belonging to all regions of project meant for selection of talented Women academics from Pakistan visit the High Commission A five-member delegation of academ- contemporary academic, social as well ia from Critical Thinking Forum (CTF) as political debates. of the International Islamic University, Welcoming the delegation, H.E. Syed Islamabad, led by Prof. Dr. Munazza Ibne Abbas, the High Commissioner Yaqoob, Department of English, visited commended the delegation for their the High Commission on 15 August, endeavours to empower women of Pa- 2017. kistan through education, research, and Currently working on an upcoming other necessary skill sets. He stated that project entitled “Consciousness Raising Pakistani women equipped with quality of Pakistani Women on Contemporary education and knowledge of contempo- Academic and Social Issues”, the Pro- rary issues can challenge the prevalent ject is being carried out by the Critical stereotypes and change the perception Thinking Forum (CTF). Its aim is to of Pakistan in a much better way. empower young women researchers While in the UK, the team CTF also and scholars by equipping them with met with the South Asian and British interacted with the intellectuals and Sonia Irum, Summaira Batool Malik, critical awareness and effective com- community to help rectify miscon- academia in the UK during scholarly and Sadaf Mehmood. munication and professional skills and ceptions of foreign cultures through sessions with them. Other members of engaging them in dialogue on important people to people interaction. They also the delegation include Sofia Hussain, Hazrat Amir Khusrow remembered at the High Commission Hazrat Amir Khusrow, the renowned Amir Khusrow, Allama Iqbal, and Faiz poetry of Khusrow and Allama Iqbal Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, Deputy High Sufi Muslim musician, poet, and scholar Ahmed Faiz. and said both derived inspiration from Commissioner presided over the event. of the 13th century was remembered at Dr. Abedi spoke at length about the Holy Quran. He thanked the speakers for their con- the Pakistan High Commission London, Khusrow’s influence on his age as well Advocate Khalil ur Rehman from tribution towards promotion of Urdu on the evening of 17 August 2017. as his relevance in the recent times. New Delhi also spoke on the occasion. literature and preserving our cultural To commemorate the iconic figure of He said Khusrow deeply impacted his He shed light on the influence of Hazrat legacy.