Friendly Relations with Great Country Pakistan
– Manju Ratna Sakya
General Secretary
Nepal-Pakistan Friendship and Cultural Association
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is one of the important countries of South Asia and occupies a central position. It is the land of many attractions and surprises. In the north there are the greatest, the highest, the youngest and the mightiest mountains, known as the Karakorams, the Himalayas and the Hindukush. This area offers a great variety of scenic splendors not only to the travellers but also to the lovers of nature, arts, adventures, scientists, biologists and hydrologists etc. With this beautiful, friendly and great country, Pakistan, the diplomatic relations between Nepal and Islamic Republic of Pakistan was established in March 1960. Since then the friendly relations between the two countries have been very cordial.
Notwithstanding the geographical distance between the two friendly nations, Nepal and Pakistan, the relationships subsisting between the two have always been warm and excellent. The major reasons could be that not only both the countries share many similar perceptions, especially in bilateral cooperation in many areas of mutual interests but being active members of SAARC and the United Nations, also in the region and the world.
To support in the strengthening cordial ties of the two countries through the people to people level, Nepal-Pakistan Friendship and Cultural Association (NPFCA) was established and registered with the concerned department of the Government of Nepal in December 1961 (9th Magha 2018, Monday)
This Friendship Association is one of the pioneer among the same kind of other Associations to be established in Nepal. This Association was established with the aim of strengthening the friendship and promotion of cultural exchanges between the people’s level from both the countries. The exchange of visits by the senior leaders from Nepal and Pakistan have been enhanced more closer and better understanding of goodwill towards each other. In this context from Nepal, the late King Mahendra, late King Birendra, former Crown Prince Dipendra, Prime Ministers Nagendra Prasad Rijal, Surya Bahadur Thapa, Marich Man Singh Shrestha , Girija Prasad Koirala and Sher Bahadur Deuba visited Pakistan on different occasions. From Pakistan side, President Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan, Fazl-e- Elahi Chaudhary, General Zia-ul- Haq, General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Ministers Muhammad Khan Juneja, Mohatarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed, Shaukat Aziz and recently Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani visited Kathmandu. Besides, there have been a number of ministerial and senior officials leval visited between two countries.
Activities :
Since its establishment, the NPFCA had organized many remarkable programs but all those are could not be enlisted here. Thus, only few noteworthy activities that had been well performed, so far, by the Association are highlighted which are as follows :
-The Centenary anniversary of Father of the Nation Muhammad Ali Jinnah was celebrated on 25th of December 1976.
-The grand reception function was organized bu NPFCA in honour of President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan General Muhammad Zia-ul Haq and Madam First lady during their state visit in the Kingdom of Nepal at Hotel Yak and Yeti, Kathmandu on 25th May 1983.
-NPFCA organized a musical evening of Pakistan’s famous
Singer Shehanshah-e-Ghazal Mehdi Hassan in September 1983 at Shah Mahal, Naxal. He was decorated the highest medal by King Birendra at Royal Palace during that time.
- NPFCA had also organized a Reception in honour of General
Pervez Musharaf, the President of Pakistan at Hotel Yak and
Yeti, Kathamandu.
-A grand reception was held in Kathmandu by NPFCA to mark the official visit of Prime Minister Ms. Benazir Bhutto of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on 25th May 1994.
-To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Pakistan’s Independence Day, Embassy of Pakistan in Nepal and Nepal-Pakistan Friendship and Cultural Association jointly organized a musical evening with Nepal’s Veteran gazal singer Mr. Ananda Karki on 14th August 1997 at Birendra International Convention Centre. The Crown Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev had graced the colorful function.
-The NPFCA had also organized a program to launch Urdu translation of Nepali book entitled "Dhoomdham Ko Ghoomgham " 17th September 1998 in which the Speaker of the House of Representative Mr. Ram Chandra Poudel was the Chief guest.
-NPFCA and the Embassy of Pakistan in Nepal jointly organized a day long seminar on "Poverty Alleviation through community mobilization in Nepal " in Kathmandu which was addressed by Mr. Shoaib Sultan Khan on 3rd October 1999 at Royal Nepal Academy. Former Prime Minister Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba was the Chief guest of the programme.
-The Musical Evening with Pakistani Popular Singer Shafqat
Amanat Ali was performed at Nepal Army Officers Club
Auditorium on Friday 24th April 2009. The Musical Evening
with Pakistani Popular Singer Sajjad Ali was performed at Nepal Army Audition on Wednesday, 16th June 2010. Likewise,the Musical Evening with Pakistani Popular Singer Abrar Ul Haq was also performed at Nepal Army Auditorium on Saturday, 23rd April 2011. On the occasion of the Grand success of Pakistan Musical Evenings, Nepal-Pakistan Friendship and Cultural Association hosted a different receptions in honour of Pakistan popular Singers and their groups at Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza, Megha Malhar Hall on the above periods.
- The NPFCA is organizing a Grand Receptions with talk programme on the auspicious occasion of Independence Day of Pakistan (14th August) every year which is followed by musical evening. Likewise, on the auspicious occasion of Independence Day of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and 50 years of Diplomatic Relations between Nepal & Pakistan, Nepal-Pakistan Friendship & Cultural Association (NPFCA) organized a grand Reception with talk programe on 14th August 2010 Saturday at Hotel Radisson, Kathmandu. Rt. Hon’ble Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala was the Chief Guest. Likewise, Vice-Chairman of Unified CPN-Maoist Hon. Narayan Kaji Shrestha “Prakash” and Vice Chairman of CPN UML Bam Dev Gautam were the Special Guests. At the programe, the Ambassador of Pakistan Syed Abrar Hussain also kindly delivered the speech.The Association had also launched Dr. Rano Mal Piryani’s book about similar words in Urdu and Nepali in the same programme.
Golden Jubilee Friendship Award :
On the occasion of Independence Day of Pakistan and to mark 50 years of Nepal-Pakistan diplomatic relations, H.E. Ambassador of Pakistan Syed Abrar Hussain announced the Golden Jubilee Friendship Award to me. At the same function, Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala and Pakistan Ambassador Hussain jointly handed over the certificate to me with a Golden Jubilee Friendship Award in the recognisation of my 40 years continuous contribution to consolidate Nepal-Pakistan friendly relations.
Contributions
NPFCA had contributed relief materials (Blankets etc.) towards the relief efforts being made by the Government of Pakistan for the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck Pakistan on 8th October 2005.
The aggressive actions of the militants have forced millions of people in the Swat valley and in the other parts of Malakand Division to migrate from their homes to elsewhere in Pakistan. To support these peaceful Pakistani civilian, young and elderly, deserve full attention and care, NPFCA contributed a cash token of Rs. 10,000 for the “Prime Minister’s Special Fund for Victims of Terrorism” in Malakand Division (Swat, Dir etc.) in Northwest Pakistan on 24th May 2009.
To help to the floods victims of Pakistanese people, NPFCA contributed a token of 100 blankets on 28th August 2010.
Achievement
The Government of Pakistan had conferred a Medal Sitara-i-Pakistan to the President of the Association Mr. Himalaya Shumsher Rana in 1998.
Hope
Nepal-Pakistan Friendship and Cultural Association wishes continue peace, glory and prosperity to the people of Pakistan. The Nepalese people have been closely watching with deep interest and sense of high appreciation to the attaining of marvelous achievement of vast developments made by the people of Pakistan.
The ties of intimate friendship, cooperation and good understanding among the people level of both the countries have been subsisting so happily and smoothly. Lets hope the growing spirit of cooperation will pave the way for a new era of peace and prosperity between Nepal and Pakistan.
Publication
The ARPAN Weekly Newspaper which is the official newspaper of the NPFCA also is publishing under my Editorship every Friday from Kathmandu regularly since 47 years.
Establishment of NPFCA Office
The NPFCA has 21 executive members and more than 1000 members. It has also Advisory Committee of former Nepalese ambassador’s to Pakistan. The NPFCA also celebrate important events of Pakistan and hosts receptions for various Pakistani dignitaries visiting Nepal.
To strengthen the friendly and cordial relations between our two countries, NPFCA has established its Central office in Maitighar, Kathmandu. We have small Library in our office. NPFCA is planning to open new branches of this Association in different places of Nepal to promote further the friendship between our two countries.
Free Medical Camp :
The NPFCA is planning to organize a Free Medical Camp at the remote areas of Nepal in every six months with the help and cooperation from the Nepalese Doctors who received the Doctors’ Degree from Pakistan.
To know more information and study on friendly relations between Nepal and Islamic Republic of Pakistan :
Please Contact :
The General Secretary
Nepal-Pakistan Friendship and Cultural Association
Post Box No. 285, Maitighar, Kathmandu, Nepal,
Phone : 4262426, Mobile : 9851024388
Email : manju_sakya@hotmail.com
Long live Nepal-Pakistan Friendly Relations
* Mr. Sakya is the President of Nepal Journalists Association and
the Chief Editor of Arpan Weekly also .