First Lady Begum Mehmooda Mamnoon Hussain on Sunday said that vibrant nations get actively engaged
with contemporary cultures to keep themselves abreast with new trends and learn
good things from others to develop their own societies.
Addressing at the annual charity
bazaar of Pakistan Foreign Office Women’s Association (PFOWA) at Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Begum Mehmooda Mamnoon Hussain said such events promoted
informal diplomacy and enhanced harmony and brotherhood among nations.
Begum Mehmooda Mamnoon Hussain
commended PFOWA for effectively discharging its responsibilities in
highlighting Pakistani culture at the global level besides carrying out welfare
activities to assist the under-privileged families belonging to Ministry of
Foreign Affairs.
She expressed satisfaction that PFOWA
charity bazaar had provided a good opportunity to diplomats of different
countries to learn about each other’s culture.
“No doubt, mixing of various cultures
and people further strengthen the mutual relations between the nations,” she
told the gathering of diplomats, ambassadors and their families.
She said it was heartening that
PFOWA’s scope was expanding as the number of women in Foreign Office at present
had grown significantly in comparison with the past.
She mentioned that for the first time
in the country’s history, the Foreign Office was headed by a woman Foreign
Secretary, which she said was an ample proof that Pakistani women were actively
participating in every field along with their male counterparts.
Begum Mehmooda Mamnoon Hussain
announced Rs 0.5 million for PFOWA on behalf of Aiwan-e-Sadr and also visited
different stalls set up at the bazaar.
Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua said
the holding of bazaar was special to mark the 70th anniversary of foundation of
PFOWA in 1947 by Shaista Ikramullah.
She said the bazaar brought together
a variety of culinary taste from different countries and traditional artifacts
besides holding welfare activities with a noble cause.
President PFOWA Dr. Ayesha Haq said
PFOWA’s reach had stretched to hundreds of low income families that also helped
them during disasters and in arranging marriages of their children.
The PFOWA charity bazaar held at the
lawns of Ministry turned out a ‘cultural hub’ that showcased stalls by
diplomatic community from countries including China, Russia, Azerbaijan,
Indonesia, Egypt, Bangladesh, Iran, Japan, Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon, Palestine,
Portugal, Romania, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tunisia, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Yemen.
In the segment ‘Parade of nations’,
the children of diplomatic staffers adorning cultural dresses of their
respective countries presented beautiful tableaus and waved their national
flags.
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