International Museum Day is celebrated all over the world on May 18 for the last 36 years. Various events and activities are planned to commemorate this festive day for the museum fraternity. The day was established in 1977 by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and the purpose was to create awareness amongst people about the rich heritage they own and the significance of museums in the progress of communities. . Impetus has been on the rise unabated since then, and every year, the International Museum Day gains great participation from museums all over the world. Events and exhibitions are organized at the museums celebrating the rich history and culture various communities possess. Lahore Museum which is one of the oldest museums in Pakistan also held two exhibitions to celebrate the International Museum Day.
Lahore Museum is considered to be amongst the best museums of the world owing to a vast assortment of historical compilation. The Lahore Museum authorities organized two exhibitions on May 18; one was of pottery and the other celebrated modern painting. The event was an attempt to introduce the affluent cultural legacy of the Indo-Pak subcontinent to its dwellers especially the younger generation who seem to have forgotten their own enriching past. Provincial Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmad inaugurated both the exhibitions; he was accompanied by the Lahore Museum Director, Ms. Sumaira Sarmad. The event was attended by people belonging to various sections of society who lauded the management of Lahore Museum for their efforts to bring back to life the rich cultural civilization of this region. Beautiful demonstrations of clay art attracted a large number of people to the pottery exhibition. Modern paiting exhibition showcased the work of two young artists, Mazhar Naveed and Uzma Bhatti, at the City Heritage Museum’s gallery. The chief guest Rana Mashhood appreciated the effort as “these kind of exhibitions play a vital role in preserving our culture and history”, he said.
As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.
Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.
Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.
YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.
Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.
Nong Rong
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
January 2021
Video message by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed on Black Day of Indian Occupation of Kashmir
Video message by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed on Black Day of Indian Occupation of Kashmir, 27 October 1947, when Indian military troops forcibly occupied Kashmir illegally, claiming a fraudulent ‘Instrument of Accession’ which never existed as documented by eminent British historian Alastair Lamb! Kashmir & Palestine are examples of illegal occupation & continued Resistance to Repression! There are so many commonalities in Kashmir & Palestine: both under brutal military occupation of foreign powers, both are facing an indigenous, popular, spontaneous & widespread Resistance & Uprising, both are in violation of UN Resolutions which haven’t been implemented, both are witnessing an attempted change in the demographic balance, both are facing the use of rape as a weapon of war, both are testimony to double-standards & hypocrisy of Western powers on human rights & fundamental rights, and both conflicts have an element of racism and Islamophobia, while enduring peace, security and stability will remain elusive in both regions, South Asia & Middle East, until these issues are resolved in accordance with popular aspirations.
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