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
Pakistan’s president defends ongoing strikes in Afghanistan, urges Kabul to dismantle militants
- Afghanistan on Thursday launched attacks in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes the previous Sunday
- Pakistan’s military says it is only targeting Afghan military installations to avoid civilian casualties
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s president on Monday defended his country’s ongoing military strikes in neighboring Afghanistan, saying Islamabad tried all forms of diplomacy before targeting militants operating from Afghan territory, and called on the Taliban government in Kabul to disarm groups responsible for attacks in Pakistan.
Pakistan earlier said it is in “open war” with Afghanistan, alarming the international community. The border area remains a stronghold for militant organizations including Al-Qaeda and the Daesh (Islamic State) group.
“(The Afghan Taliban) must choose to dismantle the terror groups that survive on conflict and its war economy,” Asif Ali Zardari said during a speech to lawmakers, adding that “no state accepts serial attacks on its soil.”
Afghanistan on Thursday launched attacks in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes the previous Sunday. Since then, Pakistan has carried out operations along the border, with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar claiming the killing of 435 Afghan forces and the capture of 31 Afghan positions.
Kabul has denied such claims.
In Afghanistan, the deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said Pakistan’s military fired mortar shells at a refugee camp in eastern Kunar province, killing three children and injuring three others.
Afghanistan’s defense ministry said Afghan forces carried out strikes targeting a Pakistani military facility near Paktia province, causing “substantial losses and heavy casualties.”
Pakistan’s military did not respond to questions. It has said Pakistan is only targeting Afghan military installations to avoid civilian casualties.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge of violence in recent months and blames it on the outlawed Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP. It operates both inside Pakistan and from Afghan territory.
Islamabad accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban government of providing safe havens for the TTP, which Kabul denies.
The latest cross-border fighting ended a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkiye in October. The two sides failed to reach a permanent agreement during talks in Istanbul.
Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s call for talks, saying, “We have never walked away from dialogue.”
The Pakistani leader again accused Afghanistan of acting as a proxy for India by sheltering militant groups.
“Stop being used by another country as a battlefield for their ambitions,” he said.
Zardari cited a recent report from the United Nations Security Council’s monitoring team that described the presence of militant groups in Afghanistan as an extra-regional threat.
