High Commissioner meets with FCO Ministers

H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK shaking hand with The Rt. Hon. Alistair Burt MP, Minister of State for International Devel- H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK meet- opment and Minister of State for the Middle East at the Foreign & Common- ing with Rt Hon Mark Field, FCO Minister for Asia & the Pacific at his wealth Office (FCO), at his office in London on 18 July 2017 office in London on 6-7-2017.

President AJ & K addresses the High Commission Officers

Sardar Masood Khan, President AJ&K addressing the officers of the High Commission on the situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir and its implications for regional security, at Pakistan High Commission London on 04/07/2017. H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK is sitting beside him.

High Commissioner’s visit to Wales

H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan High kistan is on the path to progress and it education sectors. the city of Cardiff and its vicinity. Commissioner to the UK, during his is being seen by the international com- The High Commissioner also extend- The High Commissioner, in his re- current visit to the region of Wales met munity as a land of opportunity. ed an invitation to have a delegation marks, discussed potential areas of co- with members of the British Pakistani During the visit, the High Commis- of Welsh Assembly Members sent for operation between Pakistan and Wales. community in Cardiff, the provincial sioner visited the Welsh Senedd (Na- a visit to get a firsthand experience in He proposed the idea of twining Cardiff capital of Wales with a strong presence tional Assembly for Wales) and met with this regard. city with one of Pakistan’s cities such as of Pakistani diaspora, on 26 July 2017. Assembly Members from South Wales The High Commissioner also met Faisalabad in view of their commonal- He appreciated the contribution of the East, Mr. Mohammad Asghar AM and with The Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Coun- ities, and prospects for an exchange of diaspora in the progress and develop- Mr. Mark Reckless AM. He discussed cillor Bob Derbyshire at his official resi- researchers particularly in the field of ment of Pakistan and building bridges trade and investment matters as well dence, Mansion House. The Lord Mayor agriculture. of understanding between the peoples as potential areas for cooperation be- highlighted the multi ethnic character of Pakistan and the UK. The High Com- tween Pakistan and the region of Wales of Cardiff which included a strong com- missioner highlighted the fact that Pa- particularly in agriculture, energy and munity presence of British Pakistanis in Pakistan is open for business, say big business entities

The Pakistan Britain Business Coun- The event was well represented by all particular emphasis to promote and trade and investment opportunities. cil (PBBC) and its sister company Paki- main stakeholders including FPCCI, facilitate small and medium-sized en- They expressed Pakistan economy is stan Scotland Business Council (PSBC) PBBC, LCCI, FCO, DIT, and Mayor of terprises in both countries. gaining pace and has huge potential for in collaboration with the London London office, besides several main- The speakers on the occasion includ- the international investors. The speakers Chamber of Commerce and Industry stream British business houses. ed: H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan High also termed the MoU an important step (LCCI) signed a Memorandum of Un- The purpose of the collaboration is Commissioner to the UK, Chairman forward for future cooperation. derstanding (MoU) to strengthen the to promote and strengthen the devel- of the PBBC, Julian Hamilton Barns, The High Commission facilitates such links between the three organisations opment of economic and trade relations Peter Bishop, Deputy Chief Executive, events to promote commercial relations at a Networking Reception hosted and and cooperation between the member London Chamber of Commerce and between the two countries and will help supported by the Pakistan High Com- companies of each organization in the Industry. All of them said Pakistan is in boosting the level of British invest- mission London on 11 July 2017. United Kingdom and Pakistan with a open for business and offers tremendous ment in Pakistan.

British Pakistani Parliamentarians hosted at the High Commission

H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan High trade ties between the two countries Pakistan-UK ties and working for the Parliamentarians appreciated the need Commissioner to the UK hosted a lunch in post Brexit scenario. Those who at- welfare of over 1.2 million strong di- to reach out to the community for their on 13 July 2017, in honour of the British tended the event included Lord Nazir asporas. He also briefed them on the enhanced socio-economic and political Pakistani Parliamentarians, including Ahmed, Lord Qurban Hussain, Baron- High Commission’s outreach efforts to mainstreaming. Lords and newly elected MPs in the ess Zahida Manzoor, Nusrat Ghani MP connect with the community and the The event offered a good opportunity recent elections held in June this year. and Fasial Rashid MP. renewed cultural diplomacy initiative to the officers of the High Commission The purpose was to welcome the Par- In his welcome remarks, the High in the context of 70th Independence to interact with the Parliamentarians on liamentarians and interact with them on Commissioner felicitated the newly Anniversary of Pakistan and the 70 years issues of mutual interest. a wide array of issues pertaining to the elected MPs and reiterated his resolve of establishment of Pakistan-UK diplo- diaspora and Pakistan-UK bilateral rela- to keep close liaison with them for com- matic relations. tions, with a special focus on enhancing mon causes of further strengthening In their remarks on the occasion, the

Cross-Party Parliamentary Delegation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly visits the High Commission

A nine-member Cross-Party Parlia- mentary Delegation of Khyber Pakh- tunkhwa, including Minister for Indus- tries and Minister for Religious Affairs, visited the Pakistan High Commission London on 10 July 2017. The delega- tion was on a visit to Isle of Man and Westminster, organized by the British Council. This was the seventh such visit aimed at getting familiarity with the best practices of the British Parliamentary system, especially, functioning of the Parliamentary Committees. H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK welcomed the delegation and briefed them on wide the UK. The High Commissioner un- The High Commissioner offered the termed their ongoing visit very useful ranging Pakistan-UK bilateral relations. derlined that there is great scope for delegation Mission’s all possible support and a good source of learning and shar- He said that both the countries histor- expanding the trade and economic re- for promoting tourism in the province ing best parliamentary practices. ically have cordial relations, further lations between the two countries after and bringing the investment in the min- strengthened by the presence of well Brexit and in wake of the China Pakistan eral sector of KP. over 1.2 million Pakistani diaspora in Economic Corridor (CPEC). The members of the delegation Inaugural Commemoration Service at the Muslim Burial Ground Peace Garden

Peace Garden, Woking on 16 July 2017. Commodore Raja Rab Nawaz, De- fence and Naval Adviser at the High Commission, represented H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan High Commis- sioner to the UK at the ceremony. Mayor of Woking, Councillor Gra- ham Cundy, Col A C Wood, Deputy Commander of 11 Infantry Brigade, Imam Hafiz Hashmi, The Bishop of Guildford, The Rt Reverend Andrew Watson and a large number of the mem- bers of British society attended the cer- emony. In his remarks on the occasion, Com- modore Raja Rab Nawaz paid rich trib- utes to the bravery, the courage and the ultimate sacrifice of hundreds of thou- Army who was awarded the Victoria linkages with the British Armed Forc- The Muslim soldiers who laid down sands of Muslim soldiers who fought Cross, Subedar Khudadad Khan, be- es and deeply value the commonalities their lives in the WW I &II fighting in during the two great wars in the British longed to present day Pakistan. we share together in terms of the rich the British Army, were paid rich tributes Indian Army. He said that it was indeed The Defence and Naval Adviser traditions that we continue to uphold. at an Inaugural Commemoration Ser- a matter of great honour and pride that added: “Even today we in the Pakistan I hope that this bond will grow stronger vice held at the Muslim Burial Ground the first soldier from the British Indian Armed Forces cherish our historical in future.” High Commissioner visits the Shah Jahan Mosque, Woking

H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan High harmony. Commissioner to the U.K visited the The High Commissioner held a Shah Jahan Mosque of Woking, the meeting with the Imam of Mosque, first mosque to be build in the UK and Hafiz Muhammad Saeed Hashmi and Northern Europe, on 14 July 2017. other members of the Mosque Com- The visit was a part of the outreach mittee. Imam Hashmi gave a detailed initiative of the High Commission to briefing to the High Commissioner on connect with the wider community. his role and various services being pro- In his brief remarks, the High Com- vided by the Mosque for the community. missioner commended the socio-reli- The High Commissioner also an- gious services being provided by the nounced £2000/- to set up a Comput- Mosque for the community. The key er Lab at the educational wing of the message he delivered to the community, Mosque for the students. was to focus on their children and be law abiding citizens of this country. He also emphasized on peace and interfaith

Chevening and Commonwealth Scholars visit the High Commission

A group of 35 Chevening and Com- monwealth Scholars from Pakistan, studying at various academic institu- tions in the UK, were given a recep- tion at the Pakistan High Commission London on 21 July 2017. These scholars are pursuing their Master’s and PhD degrees in a wide range of academic dis- ciplines. They have come from various professional backgrounds, including government and private sectors as well as academia. H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, the High Com- missioner, congratulated them on their selection through a rigorous and com- petitive process and getting a placement at the prestigious academic institutions of the UK. He termed them future lead- ers, influencers and decision makers. The High Commissioner also updated the scholars on Pakistan-UK bilater- al relations which are on the positive trajectory. He particularly mentioned that after the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and economic turna- round in the country, the narrative about Pakistan has changed positively in the United Kingdom. Friendly cricket match between the High Commission and Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

For the second consecutive year, a friendly cricket match was played be- tween the Pakistan High Commission London and the Royal Military Acad- emy Sandhurst at Sandhurst Cricket Ground on 9 July 2017. The High Commission team won the match by two wickets after an interest- ing contest. After winning the toss of the 30-over match, the Sandhurst team elected to bat and scored 103 runs in 23 overs, all out. In response, the High Commission’s team achieved the target in 23rd over with two wickets in hand. H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK was repre- sented by Mr. Zahid Hafeez Choudhry, Deputy High Commissioner, on the oc- casion.

Pakistani recipient of the Queen’s Young Leaders Award

Syed Faizan Hussain received Queen’s Faizan also works as a voluntary Young Leaders Award (QYLA) from teacher and has mentored over 200 Queen Elizabeth II at the Buckingham students from underprivileged house- Palace on 30 June 2017. holds and equipped them with computer A computer expert Faizan uses tech- programming skills. nology to devise solutions for health is- He is now planning to develop Ven- sues. He has developed a number of set- ture Dart, a tech consultant and out- ups, including Edu-Aid, which translates sourcing company for entrepreneurs sign language into spoken language, and and small businesses. OneHealth, a disease surveillance and tracking system which notifies health institutions about epidemic outbreaks.

Rich tributes paid to Faiz Ahmed Faiz at the House of Commons

H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan High humanist. His message was very simple: Hashmi, in her lecture shed light on var- life and work. Commissioner to the UK paid rich trib- peace, tolerance, human rights and cre- ious aspects of Faiz’s poetry and devel- He also appreciated Moneeza Hash- utes to Faiz Ahmed Faiz as the Guest of ative expression. Faiz Sahib’s contribu- opment of thought, quoting some of mi’s contribution towards promotion of Honour at Memorial Lecture organized tion in promotion of art, literature, and his beautiful verses. Interspersed with Pakistani art and culture as well as the by The Literary Circle London at the culture are unrivalled. We still cherish personal anecdotes, illustrating life and work of Faiz Ahmed Faiz. House of Commons, London on 4 July his contribution of setting up Pakistan work of Faiz, as well as the socio-cultural Mr. Khalid Mahmood MP, Dr. Push- 2017. Council of Arts and Lok Virsa, to pre- conditions of that age, the lecture en- pinder Chowdhry MBE, and Ms. Pernia Appreciating Faiz’s personal and liter- serve the folk heritage of Pakistan. We lightened the audience and was listened Price also spoke briefly on the occasion. ary attributes, the High Commissioner certainly need these institutions more to with keen interest. Moneeza Hashmi All this made the evening memorable. said: “Faiz Ahmed Faiz was a legendary than ever before.” also answered the questions asked by literary figure and on top of it, he was a Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s daughter Moneeza the audience about Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s