ISLAMABAD: The Indonesian embassy organised a ‘Family Gala: Fun Games and Sports’ for the second year in a row to celebrate the strong bonds that existed between the mission and its Pakistani friends.

The family gathering took place in the backyard of the embassy premises and witnessed participation of members of the diplomatic corps, government officials, mediapersons as well as their families.

Ambassador Adam Tugio expressed his gratitude to the friends of Indonesia from the diplomatic community and Pakistan for their support and cooperation, which helped the embassy strengthen bilateral ties and people-to-people contact.

He thanked members from the media for their continued support to the embassy’s works in promoting socio-economic development in Indonesia to the wider audience in Pakistan.

The envoy said cultural activities played an important role in building bridges of understanding and friendship, and the embassy looked forward to hosting more such celebrations in future.

Rawalpindi Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairperson Riffat Shaheen presented the replica hand sculpted gift of the world’s largest flower model ‘Titan Arum’ to the embassy.

This awe-inspiring creation was unveiled by the Indonesian ambassador with his spouse and Riffat Shaheen, symbolising the flourishing friendship between the two brotherly nations.

“Titan Arum is a symbol of long life, beauty, resilience and cultural richness. This flower is a token of love for the Indonesian people,” said Riffat Shaheen, who is also an artist, sculptor and painter.

The event showcased musical performance by a Pakistani band and cultural performances by dancers from Indonesia.

The culinary aspect of the event showcased the best of Indonesian cuisine, with guests savoring delicacies such as Bakso (beef balls soup), Sate Ayam or Indonesian chicken tikka and Nasi Goreng (fried rice).

Entrepreneurs from Faisalabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry set up stalls of beautiful handmade jewellery and Pakistani traditional clothes.

A dedicated corner for face painting also brought out the creativity in children, turning their faces into colourful canvases filled with smiles and laughter. Traditional Indonesian games also added an extra layer of excitement among the children.

Ambassador Kazhar Farhadov of Azerbaijan, High Commissioner Pengiran Kamal Bashah Achmad of Brunei Darussalam and Asif Iqbal Khan, who is director general National Library of Pakistan were among the guests who participated in the family gathering.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2023