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    Pakistan & Norway Association (PANA) Showcases Pakistani Wildlife in Film Screening Event

    Written by: Mirza Salam Ahmed
    Posted on: June 08, 2016 |

    PANA President Dr. M. Ali Nawaz discusses 'A Comprehensive Landscape-Level Approach in the Mountains of Northern Pakistan'

    The Pakistan & Norway Association (PANA) hosted a film screening event in hopes of promoting bilateral friendship between Pakistan and Norway through a program of ‘Film, Lecture and Q&A’ on the 4th of June at the Marriott Hotel, under the leadership of PANA’s President, Dr. M. Ali Nawaz.

    The event began with a small ‘Intro Film’ that was directed by the Whitley Fund for Nature & Icon Films, and narrated by world-renowned English broadcaster and naturalist, Sir David Attenborough. Known for his insatiable thirst for world exploration (despite being 90 years old), Sir David Attenborough, who is a trustee of the Whitley Fund for Nature, emphasized the importance of conservation and highlighted Whitley’s efforts on the task. “The Whitley Fund for Nature is unique. It doesn’t put its own people on the ground, but seeks out local leaders who are already succeeding. It puts its money where it really counts; where every penny counts”, said Attenborough.

    This was followed by The Cliff Walkers, a movie based on the Snow Leopards in the Himalayas, Karakoram, Pamir and Hindu Kush Mountains. The movie is inimitable in its deliverance and has been captured through the eyes of film director Nisar Malik, a Pakistani with a passion for wildlife and the outdoors. The 35-minute film showcases the journey up to the mountains, and the survival skills of the Snow Leopards. It also involves their interactions and experiences with humans, and stresses the need for a more proactive approach regarding the preservation of any and all endangered species.

    PANA Showcases Pakistani Wildlife in Film Screening Event

     

    Dr. M. Ali Nawaz, Winner of the 2016 Whitley Fund for Nature Award, followed the movie with a short lecture based on the award-winning ‘A Comprehensive Landscape-Level Approach in the Mountains of Northern Pakistan’. Nawaz’s hands-on approach and in-depth research was remarkable. He completed his lecture with a note on environmental awareness and the promotion of Pakistan’s natural beauty.

    Kenyan High Commissioner, H.E. Prof. Julius K. Bitok, was also present on the show list. He related his speech to ‘Wildlife and Tourism in Kenya’, a topic that picked up a lot of interest from the audience. The speeches and videos were followed by a Question & Answer session, which brought active participation from the crowd.

    PANA Showcases Pakistani Wildlife in Film Screening Event

    Kenyan High Commissioner H.E. Prof. Julius K. Bitok joins hands with PANA to promote wildlife conservation

    The event proved to be a major success in a manner that revealed the passion and pride that Pakistanis possessed on what their country offered in terms of natural beauty. PANA was applauded in the end to have orchestrated an event that not only helped bring the Norwegian and Pakistani communities closer, but successfully found a way to highlight concerns related to wildlife and its preservation in Pakistan.


    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