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.”
Pakistan unveils pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai to showcase country’s ‘hidden treasures’
https://arab.news/rvh3b
Pakistan unveils pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai to showcase country’s ‘hidden treasures’
- Built at cost of $28.72 million, pavilion is located in Opportunity District over an area of 35,000 square feet
- “Purpose is to show the world that Pakistan is modern, progressive and beautiful,” commerce minister says
‘Fully stand with Bangladesh’: Pakistan PM backs decision to boycott India match
- Pakistan’s government have not allowed the national cricket team to play its World Cup match against India on Feb. 15
- Pakistan has accused India of influencing ICC decisions, criticized global cricket body for replacing Bangladesh in World Cup
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday backed his government’s decision to bar the national men’s cricket team from playing against India in the upcoming T20 World Cup tournament, reaffirming support for Bangladesh.
Pakistan’s government announced on social media platform X last week that it has allowed its national team to travel to Sri Lanka for the World Cup. However, it said the Green Shirts will not take the field against India on their scheduled match on Feb. 15.
Pakistan’s participation in the tournament was thrown into doubt after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi criticized the International Cricket Council (ICC) for replacing Bangladesh with Scotland. The decision was taken after Bangladesh said it would not let its team travel to India out of security concerns.
During a meeting of the federal cabinet, Sharif highlighted that Pakistan has said that politics should be kept away from sports.
“We have taken this stand after careful consideration and in this regard, we should stand fully with Bangladesh,” Sharif said in televised remarks.
“And I believe this is a very reasonable decision.”
Pakistan has blamed India for influencing the ICC’s decisions. The global cricket governing body is currently led by Jay Shah, the head of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Shah is the son of Indian Home Minister Amit Shah.
Pakistan’s boycott announcement has triggered media frenzy worldwide, with several Indian cricket experts and analysts criticizing Islamabad for the decision. An India-Pakistan cricket contest is by far the most lucrative and eagerly watched match of any ICC tournament.
The ICC has ensured that the two rivals and Asian cricket giants are always in the same group of any ICC event since 2012 to capitalize on the high-stakes game.
The two teams have played each other at neutral venues over the past several years, as bilateral cricket remains suspended between them since 2013 due to political tensions.
Those tensions have persisted since the two nuclear-armed nations engaged in the worst fighting between them since 1999 in May 2025, after India blamed Pakistan for an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed tourists.
Pakistan denied India’s allegations that it was involved in the attack, calling for a credible probe into the incident.
