Polish national day celebrated

Ambassador and Mrs Piotr Opalinski welcomed guests to an event in celebration of the Polish National Day and Armed Forces Day, commemorating the restoration of the Polish republic after World War I in 1918.

The celebrations in Islamabad became particularly important this year since a delegation of visiting Polish parliamentarians also attended. The delegation was led by Senator Stanislav Karczewski, Marshal of the Polish Senate, who ranks third in the country’s leadership, after the president and prime minister.

In his speech, Mr Karczewski drew attention to the warm relations between Poland and Pakistan, historically made significant because some 3,000 Polish refugees settled in Karachi after World War II. Tribute was paid to the renowned Pakistani citizen of Polish origin Air Commodore Wladyslaw J M Turowicz (1908-1980).

Senators Jadwiga Rotnicka and Boguslawa Orzechowaska said they had enjoyed their trip to Pakistan. They were concerned about the situation of women, they said, also at home in Poland where there are only 14 women senators out of a hundred.

The chief guest was Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani, who delivered a comprehensive speech about the relations between the two countries. The military chief guest was Commander 10 Corps Lt Gen Nadeem Raza.

Ambassador Opalinski said the day marked the national and political achievements of Poland, the role of the armed forces and the country’s overall development, including in commerce and trade. “It is a three-dimensional celebration”, he said.

“We both, literally and figuratively, rubbed shoulders with guest from all walks of life, diplomats, parliamentarians, military officers, and private sector and civil society representatives,” a group of prominent guests, said.

Norwegian national food celebration

Siv Kaspersen, the newly arrived deputy head of mission of the Norwegian embassy was chief guest when the Pakistan-Norway Association (PANA) held its Norwegian national food event in Serena hotel on Sunday. The main dish was ‘fårikål’, mutton with cabbage, whole pepper and boiled potatoes. “It is traditionally served in late autumn when the sheep have been taken home to the farm from grazing in the mountains over summer,” explained PANA Chairman Dr Ali Nawaz, who earned his PhD from the Norwegian University of Agriculture and Environment, UMB.

Gloria Lihemo, who works at Unicef in Pakistan, said the dish is similar to several casserole dishes used in her homeland Kenya.

Her friend, David Davidsson, an expert in the German aid organisation GIZ, said in his home country, Iceland, they also have ‘fårikål’ and more sheep than anywhere else in the world.

Rosemary Rose from Australia said that in her country and in New Zealand, sheep used to be essential for the economy.

In his short lecture, Dr Waheed Chaudary, the head of Quaid-e-Azam University’s Anthropology Department, spoke about the cultural importance of food, and other issues, in a time of internationalisation. He stressed that that the essentials of cultures don’t really change very fast, in spite of impressions from outside and multiculturalism. A lively debate followed the anthropologist’s talk.

Khalid Malik of the English Speaking Union said language is important for international cooperation, and today English gives a feeling of belonging to the wider world, yet, people on the sub-continent also keep their local mother tongues.

“I was impressed by the authentic taste of the Norwegian food”, said a Scandinavian guest.

— Text and photos by Atle Hetland & Shahbaz Chaudhry

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2017