ISLAMABAD: The government has honored 23 Pakistani expatriates and organizations in the Gulf countries for their outstanding contributions in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
“To recognize the contributions made by overseas Pakistanis in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the foreign minister honored 86 overseas Pakistanis in different parts of the world,” foreign office spokesperson, Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, said on Thursday while addressing a media briefing in Islamabad.
According to the list provided by the foreign ministry, 23 overseas Pakistanis from the gulf region were also part of the Foreign Minister’s Honor List. The individuals and organizations who received the official acknowledgement for being outstanding COVID-19 warriors included eight Pakistanis from the United Arab Emirates, seven from Saudi Arabia, four from Qatar, and two each from Oman and Bahrain.
“While appreciating the services of those honored, the foreign minister underscored that overseas Pakistanis were their country’s great assets,” Chaudhri added.
“Individuals and organizations that assisted in alleviating the suffering of humanity during these challenging times in any form or manner were recognized for their efforts,” the country’s foreign ministry announced in a statement.
Lauding the exceptionally selflessness and generous services of the Pakistani expats, the foreign minister noted that their acts of kindness were performed without any consideration for reward or recognition and exemplified the true nature and spirit of the Pakistani nation.
“He (FM Qureshi) declared such individuals and groups of Pakistanis to be the heroes of the nation and true ambassadors of the country,” the statement continued.
“I am glad that our work has been recognized by our country. I felt proud when our foreign minister called us the true ambassadors of Pakistan,” Dr. Zia Ullah Khan Dawar, a public health specialist with the Saudi health ministry, told Arab News from Jeddah.
According to the foreign office, Dawar’s name was included in the list since he volunteered to save precious lives by putting himself at risk.
“He was a member of the team deputed to establish the first quarantine center for international travelers in the holy city of Makkah. On the successful accomplishment of this assignment, the center was used as a model that was replicated in Jeddah where 37 such centers were established,” the statement added.
Dawar said that after 100 days of COVID-19 in the Kingdom, the Saudi government awarded him a medal, “Captain of the COVID-19 Team,” due to his leadership qualities that helped him design a robust monitoring and active surveillance system for quarantine centers.
“This was a great honor not only for me but for the whole of Pakistan,” he said. “A Pakistani expat doctor was honored for his hard work, and it brought good name to the country. I belong to North Waziristan which until recently was known for militancy, but my award has also given a good name to my hometown and family.”
