Tribune News Network
Doha
The Pakistani community in Qatar hosted an exciting Pakistani breakfast in honour of the outgoing ambassadors of Japan and the Philippines, on Thursday.
The event came as part of the efforts to further strengthen harmony and strong inter-community relationships in Qatar, a country recognised globally for its peaceful environment.
Guests at the event included outgoing Japanese Ambassador to Qatar HE Maeda Satoshi, outgoing Philippines Ambassador to Qatar HE Lillibeth V. Pono, Dean of ASEAN Ambassadors and Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam HE Mohamed Bahrin Haji Abu Bakar, Ambassador of Indonesia HE Ridwan Hassan, Ambassador of Vietnam HE Nguyen Huy Hiep, Ambassador of Thailand HE Sira Swangsipa, Ambassador of Spain HE Javier Carbajosa, HE Dr Ashraf Khodjaev, Dr Waseem Kutab, director of the British Council; Dr Wael Shadid, a prominent Palestinian community leader, author and researcher, and Ayman AlQudwa, a well-known social media figure.
Leading members of the Pakistani community present on the occasion included Ashraf Siddiqui, president of the Pakistan Literary Council and a renowned journalist; Riyaz Bakali, former president of the Pakistan Engineers Forum Qatar, a philanthropist and educationist; Zahid Awan, former president of Halqa e Ahbab Qatar, one of the oldest community forum in Qatar and former banker; Qaiser Anwar, Vice-President, Pakistan Welfare Forum Qatar; and a number of business and professional community members among other communities.
Ashraf Siddiqui expressed gratitude to the guests for attending the event, which aimed to bid farewell to the esteemed diplomats and highlighting the role of cultural diplomacy in fostering inter-community bonds.
On behalf of the Pakistani community, he conveyed best wishes to the outgoing ambassadors.
HE Maeda Satoshi, the outgoing Japanese Ambassador, expressed heartfelt thanks for the warm hospitality extended by the leadership and officials of Qatar during his tenure.
He praised the organisers for arranging a unique and traditional Pakistani breakfast.
He fondly shared a childhood memory of hearing about Pakistan when his father first visited the country.
Ambassador the Philippines HE Lillibeth V. Pono also thanked Ashraf Siddiqui and the friends for the thoughtful arrangement. She acknowledged the hospitality she had experienced and the close cooperation with Siddiqui throughout her tenure, which continues until January 2025.
During the event, Riyaz Ahmed Bakali gave an insightful presentation on Pakistan’s significant contributions to global peace, describing it as the second-largest contributor to United Nations peacekeeping missions. He encouraged guests to explore Pakistan’s natural beauty.
Ayman AlQudwa thanked the organisers for the opportunity to experience the rich flavours of Pakistani cuisine and expressed his plans to promote Pakistan’s historical and picturesque northern areas.
