Pakistan unveils pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai to showcase country’s ‘hidden treasures’ 

KARACHI: Pakistan on Sunday officially unveiled its pavilion and logo for Expo 2020 Dubai, the largest pavilion ever constructed outside the South Asian country, with the aim of projecting a “modern, progressive and beautiful Pakistan,” the country’s commerce minister said.
Delayed by the COVID-19 outbreak, the UAE is now holding the Expo from October 01, 2021 to March 31, 2022 in Dubai. Around 192 countries are participating in the event, with 25 million visitors from around the world expected. Arif Ahmed Khan, CEO of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, said the private sector had contributed more than one billion rupees for the construction of the pavilion.
“First of all, I would like to thank the government of UAE for holding this very important international event and gathering under Expo 2020,” Pakistani commerce minister Abdul Razzak Dawood told Arab News after the unveiling of the pavilion and its logo in Karachi. “This is a wonderful show to get all the countries together at one place.”
“I am very excited that Pakistan is putting up a very befitting pavilion,” Dawood added. “This pavilion is being set up with the support of the government of Pakistan and support of the corporate sector of Pakistan.”
The Pakistan pavilion was officially handed over to Pakistani authorities in March this year following the completion of construction works at the Expo 2020 Dubai site. The pavilion, which is located in the Opportunity District, cost $28.72 million to build and occupies 35,000 square feet.
“The purpose to set up the pavilion is to show the world that Pakistan is modern, progressive and beautiful,” Dawood said. “Hope that many people from the Middle East along with Pakistanis will take the opportunity to visit the pavilion and see the whole panorama of what Pakistan is and they will visit the country”.
The theme of the Pakistani pavilion is “The Hidden Treasure,” which aims to showcase Pakistan’s vast opportunities in tourism and business, and project its economic potential to a global audience. The facade of the pavilion displays the colors and diversity of the country and its people.
Information minister Fawad Hussain Chaudhry said Dubai Expo2020 would enable many Pakistanis living in the UAE to see a “brighter” side of their home country.
“The Expo 2020 is being held in UAE where many Pakistanis are living and it is our second home,” Chaudhry said while addressing Sunday’s event. “The large Pakistani community in UAE will have an opportunity to see their country’s brighter side.”
“This is a great opportunity for Pakistan to show to the world its immense potential and discover the ‘hidden treasure’,” he added. “That was the old perception: that terrorism or religious extremism is exported from Pakistan … Now Pakistan is exporting technology, agriculture products, and tractors.”