Swedish envoy hosts Lucia Celebration

Ambassador of Sweden Ingrid Johansson hosted a ‘Lucia Celebration’ at the Swedish residence. The annual Lucia Celebration held on 13 December and features girls and boys clad in white full-length gowns singing songs together.

Tradition has it that Lucia wears ‘light in her hair’, that is a crown of candles in a wreath on her head. She is accompanied in song by her handmaidens, star boys and brownies.

Ambassador Johansson said: “Thank you for accepting our invitation to join our traditional Lucia Celebration. It’s the Swedish way of starting the holiday season. We have assembled the brightest and the best in Islamabad, they have rehearsed, and they are waiting very eagerly.”

Educationist Master Ayub was invited to the event as a special guest along with 10 of his students.

Ambassador Johansson said: “We have had the privilege of following Master Ayub for the past year and have tried in various ways to support his activities. More than 200 students join his classes every evening and tonight you also have the opportunity to contribute to the school.

Independence Day of Kazakhstan marked

The Independence Day of Republic of Kazakhstan was celebrated at a local hotel with guests from various segments of society in the capital.

The reception also commemorated the contribution of the first president, Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev, to the development of the country’s domestic and foreign policy and the strengthening of cooperation with Pakistan.

The chief guest on the occasion was Minister for Privatisation Mohammedmian Soomro.

Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan Akan Rakhmetullin said that there were many opportunities to expand and deepen the ties between Pakistan and Kazakhstan in areas of trade, culture, education and tourism.

He added: “Soon after we had established our diplomatic relations, Kazakhstan opened its embassy here in Islamabad in 1994, to which I became a part as a young attaché. And now I am back after 25 years as an ambassador – proud and honoured. Kazakhstan highly values good relationship with Pakistan and I will be trying my best to bring our partnership to the new qualitative level.”

US envoy hosted at dinner

United States Ambassador Paul Jones was invited as the chief guest to a large dinner hosted by former senator Enver Baig and his wife last Friday.

Their elegant home is situated in the hills towards Murree in the Bhara Kahu area on the outskirts of Islamabad.

“The bustling settlement is developing with new constructions and businesses, but when the gates of the Baigs’ home are opened, guests find themselves in a serene dream world,” said a guest.

The American envoy stayed until late, as he had last year, a welcome event was held for him and his wife Christine Jones Cooks, who is an accomplished writer. This year, she was unable to attend as she was back in Washington for the holiday season.

Foreign envoys, retired and current Pakistani diplomats, business people, media figures and several senior American diplomats also attended the event.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2019