Dubai: The large Pakistani community in Dubai this weekend marked 77-year-anniversary of the signing of the Lahore Resolution with an art exhibition and the opening of a 2,500-book library.
On Saturday evening, the Pakistan Association Dubai hosted an exhibition of 15 photos that showed Pakistan’s pristine mountainous northern regions. Then, attendees saw the opening of the Niaz Muslim library, established in memory of a late Down syndrome child.
The library is open to everyone, and contains more than 2,500 books on the UAE, Pakistan, Islamic history, and English literature. Its sponsors also believe that the library contains the largest collection of Urdu literature in the country.
Both the library and exhibition were inaugurated by the guest of honour, Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, who is the Minister of State for Tolerance.
“Today’s celebration is an occasion of pride and solidarity, a time to share and appreciate history and patrimony, and mark allegiance and loyalty,” said Shaikha Lubna.
This year, on March 23, Pakistanis marked 77 years since the signing of the Lahore Resolution.
Written in 1940, the resolution saw local leaders call for the creation of sovereign states in eastern and northwestern India, then under British Rule.
“On this important day, I would like to commend the fraternal relations between our two countries. The UAE and Pakistan have always enjoyed strong political, economic and social relations,” she added.
“Together, we hope to continue to take our strategic partnerships to the next level, by strengthening our ties and upholding our core human values.”
Pakistan’s ambassador to the UAE, Moazzam Ahmad, also spoke. “[The] UAE has always been our second homeland [and a] land full of opportunities for millions of expatriates,” said the envoy.
“We hope and wish to maintain a lifelong relation of continuous support and love with United Arab Emirates.”
At the same ceremony, the Pakistani Association Dubai’s general secretary, Faisal Ikram, talked about the initiatives of the association.
The plans, which include ideas to hand out food during the fasting month of Ramadan and children’s education programmes, would be part of the ‘Year of Giving’ by UAE’s leaders.
The association’s main project is the Pakistan Medical Centre, a non-profit medical facility that is seeking donations.
Social workers — both UAE nationals and Pakistanis — who helped boost the positive image of Pakistan in the UAE were also awarded.
