ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting, Firdous Ashiq Awan, praised Arab News Islamabad bureau on Wednesday for promoting bilateral engagements with the Arab world.
Speaking as chief guest at the second annual Iftar dinner hosted by Arab News Pakistan edition, she said, “I want to congratulate and thank Arab News Pakistan for promoting bilateral engagement through their media strategy.”

She said the local chapter of its parent organization, Arab News, has been pivotal in “filling the gaps by disseminating (productive information) and news, portraying our positive image in the Middle East as a close associate and partner (of Pakistan).
The evening was graced by a large number of people ranging from Arab diplomats and expats, electronic and print media journalists, former ambassadors, government officials and members of the armed services, politicians, analysts, and notable personalities.
Hosted by Asia Bureau Chief, Baker Atyani, the Iftar gathering took place at a luxury hotel in Islamabad.

Commenting on Arab News Pakistan’s inception, Chairperson of Peace and Culture Organization, Mushaal Hussein Mullick said that the publication has helped in projecting the issue of disputed Kashmir to the people in Gulf countries.
“It’s a good expansion and all prayers to this endeavor of Arab News launching in Pakistan,” said Mullick, hoping that the online publication would give voice to the Kashmir issue the same way it has to the Palestinian cause.

Deputy Head of the Kuwait embassy in Islamabad Khalid Jassim Al-Yassin said that such occasions would provide an opportunity to Arab diplomatic missions in Islamabad to “interact and enhance engagements in areas of cooperation between the Middle Eastern countries and Pakistan.”
An avid reader of Arab News, former Pakistani Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Muhammad Nawaz Chaudhry who has served multiple times in the Kingdom from 1990’s up to 2002 said he found reporting of Arab News “very incisive and insightful which has maintained a high standard of journalism” in the Middle East with a large number of news organizations “but Arab News continues to be my first choice.”
Commenting on the offshoot’s credibility which maintains the same journalism ethics and stellar track record of reliability of the Riyadh based newspaper, Chaudhry said, “people will have faith in any news it carries because Arab News has created a niche in the society and official circles.”
“I see a tremendous opportunity of this news publication in bridging the gap” between Pakistanis, Arabs and their respective leaders.