Syed Mussarat Khalil Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Like in previous years, this year too the Pakistan Journalist Forum (PJF) organized an impressive and colorful function to celebrate Pakistan's 69th Independence Day at Spicy restaurant, Thalia Street recently. Distinguished members from Pakistani community and their families attended the gathering. The hall was beautifully decked with Saudi Arabian and Pakistani flags. Gifts and prizes were given to winners of the quiz competitions. Two return tickets from PIA were also given to lucky persons through raffle draws. Aftab Ahmed Khokher, Consul General of Pakistan, attended the occasion as chief guest. Guests of honors were Asif Hassan Memon, deputy consul general, Sohail Ali Khan, press consul, Abdul Wahab Somroo, commercial consul, Osama Hatem Okal section manager office services (Saudia) and Imtiaz Bhutto, country manager Pakistan International Airline (PIA). Khokher congratulated the audience on the Independence Day of Pakistan and praised the efforts of PJF for organizing such a beautiful event. He expressed his gratitude to the community who had cooperated with him to eliminate the VIP culture from the consulate. Christian community chairman Pervez Yousuf brought the National Day cake and the Consul General performed the cake cutting ceremony along with other prominent community figures. Earlier, the ceremony started with the recitation of few verses from the Qur'an by Mohammad Asif followed by National Anthem of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Naat was presented by veteran local journalist Mohammed Amil Usmani. Amir Mohammed Khan, chairman of PJF, welcomed all guests and thanked them for their hearty cooperation that made it possible to host a successful event. He also thanked efforts of journalist Fouzia Khan, who prepared colorful tableaus, Merriam Khan, Saleh Asad, Warddah Khan, Sami Asad, Riyana Khan, Abdullah Younus, Taiba Khan and Ra'ad Younus for their efforts in grooming schoolchildren in presenting national songs. Beladi School children Manahil, Duoa Fatima and Unamta sang the heart-touching song “ Bara Dushman Bana Phirta Hai Jo Bachon Say Larta Hai” in memory of the terrorist attack on the Army Public School in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar in January 2015. The audience roundly applauded the school children's performance. Khan congratulated the consul general on his new assignment as Pakistan Ambassador to Lebanon, and wished his every success in his new post. Jamil Rathore, general secretary of PJF, conducted the proceedings. The function ended with the singing of the national songs “Jiway Jiway Pakistan” and “Sony Darthi Allah Rakhay Qadam Qadam Aabad” by young artist Ali Naqvi with consul general and all the audience joining in with full fervor.
