sign in sign up
<<
Home , Arif Alvi, Pakistan Day, Qamar Javed Bajwa

August 14, 2021

TH 75 3 INDEPENDENCE DAY August 14, 2021

Dr. Arif Alvi Message of the Ambassador President Prime Minister

extend heartiest felicitations to my Pakistani strong will to effectively counter affection that binds our two countries. brothers and sisters and our friends in the State of all challenges currently I greatly appreciate the excellent Qatar on the occasion of the 75th Independence confronting the country. This healthcare facilities and facilitation Day of Pakistan. This is a day to commemorate the includes the ongoing extended to the large Pakistani community Ifearless democratic struggle and countless sacrifices coronavirus crisis. Pakistan has during the coronavirus crisis. I am also rendered by the nation to achieve their right to have a received universal praise for its confident that the numbers of Pakistani homeland in accordance with their aspirations and effective policies. The workforce in Qatar will substantially distinct religious, cultural and social values. Economist magazine ranked increase in the longer term. Commemorating Independence Day in a befitting Pakistan among the best I take this opportunity to especially manner strengthens our resolve to work tirelessly performing countries for thank all overseas Pakistanis for their towards transforming our country in accordance with handling the pandemic. contribution to the development and the aspirations of the Father of the Nation Quaid-e- Measures taken by the prosperity of the country. For the Pakistani Azam and other leaders of the government to control the community in the State of Qatar, Independence struggle. spread of coronavirus, while Independence Day has always been an Today we pay homage to the Quaid-e-Azam by keeping the economy especially joyous occasion. They celebrate pledging to adhere to and follow his guiding principles operational was a huge this day with great zeal and enthusiasm. of Unity, Faith and Discipline in our individual as well challenge but the government This 14th August also, the community, while as collective lives. It is also an occasion for all of us to has, to a large extent, successfully addressed it. respecting the rules due to the coronavirus situation, rejoice and renew our firm resolve to carry forward the Pakistan and the Qatar have historically enjoyed will commemorate Yaum-e-Azadi by paying tributes to legacy and heritage bequeathed to us by the Quaid-e- extremely cordial relations based on a common faith the sacrifices of the founding fathers in a befitting Azam, Allama Iqbal and other leaders of the and traditions, deep-rooted cultural affinities, manner and reaffirming their resolve to continue to Independence movement who were supported by their geographic proximity, and convergence of interests. work for the progress and prosperity of the motherland. nation through unwavering determination and These fraternal bonds have been carried forward and While celebrating the Independence Day today, let demonstration of remarkable discipline and unity. strengthened under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh us reiterate our commitment to take Pakistan to the Over the last seven and a half decades, the Pakistani Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, heights of greatness in line with the vision of the nation has time and again overcome enormous who has always shown great support for Pakistan. independence leaders. May Allah Almighty grant us the challenges and adversity through unflinching and Bilateral relations have been greatly strengthened ability to serve our beloved homeland sincerely and unswerving faith, patriotism, steadfastness and in recent times. Frequent leadership level contact and lead Pakistan on the path of further development and resilience. During the course of this journey, all exchange of high level visits have increased over the prosperity. challenges emanating from within and outside were past two and a half years. Prime Minister Imran Khan On this 14th August we also pay tribute to the faced with unparalleled resilience by the nation. visited Qatar twice in 2019 and again in February 2020; struggle and sacrifices of our Kashmiri brethren in The hardworking people of Pakistan, including and we proudly hosted H H the Amir in Pakistan in June their just struggle against oppression till the realisation overseas Pakistanis, are playing their due roles in the 2019. Foreign Ministers of the two brotherly countries of their inalienable right to self-determination as progress and development of the country as it also remain in regular contact. The positive enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council continues on the path to greater progress and engagement at the leadership level has led to a Resolutions. development as envisaged by the Father of the Nation. substantial boost in bilateral cooperation in all fields Let us also reaffirm our commitment to further The day is also an occasion to pay tribute to all those including the political, defence and economic spheres. strengthening the fraternal bonds between Pakistan sons of the soil who laid their lives while defending and Pakistanis have proudly contributed in the and Qatar and dedicate ourselves to bringing our two protecting territorial as well as ideological frontiers of remarkable and praiseworthy progress and great nations ever closer. the motherland. development of Qatar. The Pakistani community is a The Pakistani nation is today fully united and living bridge between the two nations. Our workforce Pakistan Zindabad. determined to meet all challenges and continue its has made significant contribution in key institutions of Pakistan-Qatar friendship Zindabad. towards progress and development. The Qatar such as the armed forces, police, health, , under the leadership of Prime education, banking and civil aviation. The hospitality Syed Ahsan Raza Shah Minister Imran Khan, has already demonstrated its offered to Pakistanis in Qatar is a reflection of the Ambassador of Pakistan

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dr. Khalid M Al-Shafi

MANAGING EDITOR Supplement Editor COVER / DESIGN Mohammed Osman Ali Arsalan Altaf Abraham Augusthy 4

Qatar-Pakistan: An everlasting bond of brotherhood

President of of Pakistan H E Dr Arif Alvi granting “Nishan-e-Pakistan”, country’s highest civil award, to Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as an expression of the depth of the historical relations between Qatar and Pakistan, in , on June 23, 2019. RIGHT: H H the Amir planting a pine tree along with Prime Minister of Pakistan H E Imran Khan during his visit to Pakistan, to express the strength of the relations between the two countries and the two brotherly peoples.

mir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani talks session. At the outset of the session, the Pakistani Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Shah Mehmood Qureshi; paid a two-day state visit to Pakistan on June Prime Minister greeted H H the Amir, expressing hope Special Adviser to the Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs 22-23, 2019. During the visit, H H the Amir and that the visit by His Highness would contribute to Zulfi Bukhari, as well as a number of senior officials; Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of cementing and developing the friendship relations Qatar’s Ambassador to Pakistan, H E Saqr bin Mubarak APakistan H E Imran Khan witnessed the signing of a between the two countries. Al Mansouri; Pakistan’s Ambassador to Qatar, H E Syed number of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) He noted that the great successes Qatar has achieved Ahsan Raza Shah, and members of the Qatar Embassy. between the two countries’ governments. in different fields, which will be conducive to further The artillery fired 21 rounds upon the arrival of H H H H the Amir and the Prime Minister of Pakistan joint cooperation. the Amir. witnessed the signing of an MoU between Qatar’s In turn, H H the Amir expressed happiness to visit H H the Amir was accorded an official reception at Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Pakistan’s Pakistan and also voiced confidence that the visit would the headquarter of Prime Ministry of Pakistan. The Ministry of Commerce and Textile Industry, on the constitute a platform for strategic cooperation that ceremony began with the national anthems of Qatar and establishment of Qatari-Pakistani Joint Working Group serves the interests of the two brotherly peoples. Pakistan, then H H the Amir inspected the Pakistani on Trade and Investment, in addition to an MoU for The two sides discussed aspects of enhancing guard of honour. JF 17 fighter Jets also flew in H H the cooperation in the fields of tourism and business relations between the two countries in various fields, Amir’s reception. activities. especially in economy, trade, investment, energy, H H the Amir then planted a pine tree in the garden They also witnessed the signing of MoU for tourism, education and other fields that serve the to express the strength of the relations between the two cooperation in the exchange of financial investigations bilateral interests of the two countries and peoples. They countries and the two brotherly peoples. related to money laundering, related original crime and also discussed the regional and international H H the Amir attended a dinner banquet hosted by the financing of terrorism between the Financial developments, especially the situation in the Middle East the Prime Minister. The function was attended by a Information Unit of the State of Qatar and the Financial and the Gulf region. number of Their Excellencies Pakistani ministers and Control Unit of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The Upon arrival in Pakistan, H H the Amir and the senior officials. MoU aims to enhance cooperation between the two accompanying delegation were welcomed at the H E Dr Arif Alvi granted bodies to effectively reduce and combat money airport of Noor Khan Air Base, by the Pakistani Prime “Nishan-e-Pakistan”, Pakistan’s highest civil award, to H laundering and terrorist financing. Minister Imran Khan. H the Amir, as an expression of the depth of the H H the Amir and the Prime Minister held an official Also present at the airport to greet H H the Amir were historical relations between Qatar and Pakistan.

6

Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met at his office at Al Bahr Palace with Chief of Army of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, H E Qamar Javed Bajwa, and his accompanying delegation, on the occasion of his visit to the country. The meeting dealt with reviewing bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and Pakistan and the means to enhance them, in addition to discussing the latest regional and international developments. RIGHT: Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani; Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani; a number of Ministers; Chief of Staff of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan H E General Qamar Javed Bajwa; and other dignitaries during the graduation ceremony of the 16th batch of graduates of Ahmed Bin Mohammed Military College at its headquarters on January 28, 2021.

Pakistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs H E , with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Ambassador of Pakistan to the State of Qatar, H E Syed Ahsan Raza Shah, Abdulrahman Al Thani with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of inaugurating the new building of Pakistan Embassy in Doha. Pakistan H E Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Doha, in January 2020.

The Ambassador on the occasion of the release of 52 Pakistani prisoners from Qatari jails. He thanked H H the Amir for the release of prisoners. 7

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs H E Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah met with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan H E General Nadeem Raza. During the meeting, they discussed issues of common concern between the two sides and ways of enhancing and developing them. The meeting was attended by a number of senior officers of the Qatari Armed Forces. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan H E Shah Mahmood Qureshi on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, held in Antalya, , on June 18, 2021. The meeting dealt with reviewing bilateral cooperation and the means to enhance it, in addition to reviewing regional and international issues of joint interest.

Qatar, Pakistan review military ties Chief of Staff of Qatari Armed Forces H EL ieutenant General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen Al Ghanim met with Chief of the Pakistan Naval Staff H E Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi, in Doha, Qatar. During the meeting, they reviewed the bilateral military cooperation and relations between the two sides and means of enhancing them. The meeting was attended by a number of senior officers in the armed forces.

Joint Qatari-Pakistani military committee discusses cooperation he joint Qatari-Pakistani military committee held its fifth meeting in July 2021 in Doha. The meeting lasted two days. T President of the International Military Cooperation Authority General Abdulaziz Saleh Al Sulaiti, and Director General of Foreign Military Cooperation in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan H E General Zahid Mahmood participated in the meeting. The meeting dealt with presenting the most important activities held between the two countries in the military field, discussed bilateral military cooperation and the means to enhance them. At the end of the meeting, the two sides exchanged commemorative shields. 8

Pakistan Day celebrations at Embassy

Ambassador Syed Ahsan Raza Shah hoisting the flag to mark , on , 2021, at the Embassy of Pakistan, Doha.

Mohsin Mujtaba appointed Honorary Investment Counsellor

Ambassador H E Syed Ahsan Raza Shah has extended heartiest congratulations to Mohsin Mujtaba on his appointment as Honorary Investment Counsellor of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the State of Qatar.

The Ambassador joined children in planting saplings to mark Independence Day in 2020.

Pashtoon community event at Embassy of Pakistan A Pashtoon community event was held at the Embassy of Pakistan, Doha, on the occasion of Pashtoon Day on February 25, 2021. The event was organised for the acknowledgment and to pay tribute to the respected members of Pashtoon community for its efforts for the betterment of Pakistani community in the State of Qatar. At the end of event, the respected members appreciated the efforts of Pakistan Embassy and bestowed traditional Pagri (turban) upon the the Ambassador. 9

Pakistan Super League Champions

Multan Sultans players celebrate after lifting the Pakistan Super League 2020-21 trophy. The Pakistan contingent walks out at the Tokyo Olympics. 10

t doesn’t get any better than this: Condé Nast, the Frontier taking in world’s leading lifestyle travel magazine, declared mountain scenery, the Pakistan as the best holiday destination in the world Kalash people, the Hunza for 2020. “The adventure travelers must-visit goes The land of beauty Valley and Chitral. Ifrom strength to strength,” wrote the award-winning The British luxury magazine, and highlighted popular destinations in Backpackers Society (BBS) Pakistan. The magazine’s list picks destinations based on declared Pakistan as the “major events and trends around the world” and aims to world’s third highest be “geographically diverse, as well as one that covers a potential adventure range of trips, from eco-tourism to adventure, to inspire destination for the next every type of traveller. There are the destinations that decade. “Pakistan have been on our radar for a while, but keep getting tourism industry had been better.” showing the highest The past few years have seen a steady increase in growth among its foreign tourists visiting Pakistan and it looks like the competitors, especially trend is set to continue after Pakistan topped Condé Nast due to the recently Traveller’s list of best holiday destinations for 2020. “The introduced visa relaxation ancient valleys, relaxed visa restrictions and a high- by the present profile royal visit from the Duke and Duchess of A general view of Kalam Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. government,” BBS Cambridge at the end of 2019 mean that at a start of a President Samuel Joynson new decade this remarkable country is also entering a corners.” “Hardy visitors will find that little has noted in an interview. new era,” the magazine wrote. “Having operated tours in changed since Mughal times – with the peaks’ “Pakistan offers much more to travelers and Pakistan since the late 1990s, I’ve had a ringside seat to gemstone mines, fairy meadows and winding trails tourists,” he said. “In addition to touring the its troubled tourism industry, but finally, it seems to be worn into the ground by heavy-laden yaks – while the Karakoram Highway, (the tourists can) visit the improving,” it quoted Jonny Bealby, founder and CEO of Karokoram, stretching upwards from the north-west bustling markets of , taste the delectable adventure-tour operator Wild Frontiers, as saying. “A frontier and carved into the ancient bedrock, is one of flavours of the in and grab tea with focus on security measures, which saw the British FCO the world’s most astonishing highways,” Condé Nast some of the friendliest people that you will ever meet lift its advice against travel to large parts of the north, concluded. on the story-tellers street of ,” he said, and the election of Imran Khan (as prime minister), who The American-based magazine Forbes also recalling his visit to the country. “Your first trip to has vowed to increase international tourist numbers, has enlisted Pakistan in its ‘The Not Hot List: 10 Best Pakistan will be a trip that you will never forget. Top already had an impact,” Bealby said. Under-the-Radar Trips for 2020’. adventure travel experience: Wedged in the north- The magazine further added: “For the intrepid In an article in the magazine, the Wild Frontiers eastern corner of Pakistan lies a geographical traveller, this is a place of exquisite landscapes, where organisation labelled Pakistan as the next big superlative like no other,” Joynson suggested. green spaces are overlooked by towering mountains. In destination for a couple of years now, especially due to Pakistan also boasts 7,253 glaciers with more fact, Pakistan has more peaks taller than 22,965ft than the recent visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. glacial ice than anywhere on the planet outside the and Nepal combined, making it an almost The Wild Frontiers pointed out that Pakistan offered polar regions. The area of glaciers logs 11,780 magnetic spot for adventure travellers and intrepid ancient Indus civilisations, stretching back 4,000 kilometres with 2,066 volume of ice (km3) in the hikers. Visitors can follow in Michael Palin’s steps while years, and exciting cities like Lahore with its forts, ranges of Himalaya, Karakoram and Hindukush. traversing the 12,250ft Shandur Pass, home to the world’s mosques and palaces. The country also owned Pakistan is a paradise for tourists and with its diverse highest polo field, or meet with the Kalash people of the incredible scenery, particularly in the north, where the cultures and landscapes, attracts an estimated Hindu Kush, famed for their cowrie-shell headdresses three greatest mountain ranges collide, it added. 500,000 foreign tourists annually. The main and brighter-than-bright embroidery. In Lahore, the “Pakistan is great for trekking, mountain biking, rafting destinations of choice for these tourists are the Khyber sight of 100,000 worshippers crammed into the or just cultural tourism.” It also endorsed Pass, Hunza, Kalash, Naran, Kaghan, Karachi, Lahore, sandstone 17th-century Badshahi Mosque will leave you improvement in road and tourism infrastructure of the Swat and Islamabad etc. Pakistan’s tourist attractions breathless, while Mughal-era architectural northern parts of the country. Wild Frontiers’ also range from the mangroves in the south to the masterpieces stand resplendent on bustling street mentioned its 16-day group tour to the Northwest Himalayan hill stations in the north-east.

Clifton Beach, Karachi

Kaghan Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa