Embassy of Pakistan

(France)

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PRESS RELEASE

Pakistan Day celebrated in France

Paris; March 23, 2021

Pakistan’s flag was hoisted at a ceremony held at  Pakistan Embassy in Paris this morning to celebrate Pakistan Day. Participation at the event was restricted due to recent lockdown imposed by the French government in view of the ongoing third wave of Covid-19.

Messages of President and Prime Minister of Pakistan were read out on the occasion.

In his remarks Charge d’Affaires. Mr. M. Amjad Aziz Qazi said this day changed the course of history as Muslims of the Indian subcontinent adopted a resolution demanding a separate homeland for themselves under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah at the annual session of All-India Muslim League on 23 March 1940.

He said on this day we pay homage to the Quaid and other leaders of Pakistan movement who made Pakistan a reality in just seven years after passing of the resolution. He also said that path showed by Quaid continues now under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan to make Pakistan an Islamic democratic welfare state on the model of Riasat-e-Madina.

He also said this day Pakistan reaffirms its support to the brothers and sisters of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir who continue to face Indian military siege. He emphasized that Pakistan will continue to provide political, diplomatic and moral support to the Kashimiri people until they get their right of self determination as per UNSC resolutions.

Mr. Qazi told Pakistani community in France that in the evening today a virtual open house will be held in which Charge d’Affaires will interact with members and children of the Pakistani community via video link.

The Embassy of Pakistan also arranged a virtual exhibition of the photos of natural beauty and culture of Pakistan at the Embassy’s website.

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Embassy of Pakistan

(France)

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Press Release

Kashmir Black Day observed in France

Paris; October 27, 2020: A special event was organized at the Embassy here today to observe the Kashmir Black Day. Members of French civil society and media as well as Pakistani community in Paris attended the event.

Charge d’Affaires, a.i. Mr. M. Amjad Aziz Qazi highlighted the significance of this day noting that 73 years ago Indian security forces landed in Srinagar to illegally occupy the territory and subjugate the people of Jammu and Kashmir in clear violation of international law and humanitarian norms. International media and human rights organizations continue to document the gross human rights violations committed by India in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr. Qazi especially highlighted the illegal actions of Indian government taken on August 5, 2019, under which the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was revoked. He also said that illegal and unilateral Indian actions are in violation of international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

He also stressed that Pakistan will continue to support the Kashmiris in their just struggle and legitimate right to self-determination, in accordance with international law, UN Charter and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

At the same time, a Photographic Exhibition was also held, in which photographs showing the plight of Kashmiris who are under Indian military siege were put on display. Photographs of a French journalist, Ms. Benedicte Van der Maar were also exhibited. Her photographs were taken last year during a visit to Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The photographs depicted the destruction and injuries suffered by civilians because of Indian shelling and ceasefire violations across the Line of Control.

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Press Release

BIE trainers impart 2-day training to TDAP officials

Paris; September 29, 2020: The Bureau of International Exhibitions (BIE) started a two-day online interactive training of officials of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) covering all facets of BIE, preparing Pakistani officials to participate in the international expos including next year’s Dubai Expo in the most useful way.

In his opening remarks Mr. Dmitri S. Kerkentzes, Secretary General of the organization said BIE is an intergovernmental organization of 169 states which was created through a Convention relating to international exhibitions signed in Paris in November 1928. It arranges international expos and specialized expos all over the world.

He informed that this is the first capacity building program that BIE has designed for its member states. It took more than a year in designing the course and Pakistan is the first country to benefit from the newly designed modules, he informed.

Mr. Kerkentzes briefed the participants about BIE and outlined the theme of the training. He said that Expos are unique global events, which are among world’s largest gatherings, bringing together governments, businesses, international organizations, civil society, and the general public. Addressing themes of global concern, Expos maintain a high profile and credibility among international events.

Secretary TDAP Mr. Ahsan Ali Mangi said that TDAP’s role is to promote trade in Pakistan and assist local businesses in accessing international markets. He said the exchange of ideas and experiences would immensely help the country and its traders and manufactures to learn from international best practices.

Expressing his views in the inaugural session, Charge d’Affaires a.i. Mr.  M. Amjad Aziz Qazi thanked BIE for arranging this training. We have always participated in BIE activities and played an important role in its various initiatives, he said.

Mr. Qazi said that with this training program a step has been taken towards cementing our already friendly ties and expressed the confidence that this will equip TDAP and its officers for effective participation in international Expos and Specialized World Expos. It will also help them organize their own events in a more professional manner, he added.

Pakistan has been an active member of BIE since becoming a member in 2007. Dr. Moin Wani, Commercial Counsellor of Pakistan Embassy in France is currently chairing the Rules Committee, which is one of the four committees of BIE. Prior to that he was heading BIE’s Information Committee.

Initially the BIE team had planned to go to Pakistan for this training but due to Covid-19 restrictions, it is now being conducted online, which has been divided into five segments relating to country branding, multilateral public diplomacy opportunities, participation procedure, developing a brand statement, impact evaluation of participation and Customs/Logistics, in addition to several others.

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2 Documentaries on mountaineering in Pakistan screened at a film festival in Paris

Paris; September 25, 2020: Two documentaries based on the expeditions of mountaineers and paragliders from France and Poland to the high mountainous areas of Pakistan were screened at a film festival in Paris, France on September 23-24.

The summer edition of the festival was held at Grand Rex cinema in Paris. Some of the mountain climbers and paragliders who went to Pakistan for their expeditions were also present on the occasion. The Embassy of Pakistan was represented by Charge d’Affaires a.i., Defence Attaché, Press Counsellor and Head of Chancery.

Lost in Karakoram, a 30-minute documentary regarding paragliding in Pakistan’s Karakoram Range. Directed by Damien Lacaze, Antoine Girard and Jeremie Chenal, the documentary regarded this area as one of the most beautiful mountain venues in the world. The film was based on French paragliders’ attempt to ascend the 7027-meter high Spantik peak.

The second documentary titled The Last Mountain is of 83 minutes duration. Directed by Darius Zaluski, the film is based on the 2018 K-2 expedition of Polish mountaineers. The documentary informed that K-2 is world’s only 8000+ meter peak that has never been climbed in the winter. During this challenging expedition, a couple of members of the Polish team went to rescue a French mountaineer Elizabeth Revol and her Polish teammate who were trapped on nearby Nanga Parbat.

Charge d’Affaires a.i. Mr. M. Amjaz Aziz Qazi held a meeting with the organizers of the festival Ms. Manon Grimwood and Mr. Cyril Salomon and said that Pakistan welcomes tourists from across the globe to visit the country which is gifted with epic landscapes and challenging mountain tops.

The organizers said that Pakistan is one of the key destinations for French mountaineers and people like to watch the breathtaking landscapes and beautiful mountains. They said these films were also shown in Switzerland, Denmark and Czech Republic as part of the same film festival. Screenings in other European countries were cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.