By Aymen Zaheer
JEDDAH — Pakistan Writers Club (PWC) and its Ladies Chapter (PWC-LC) hosted a luncheon reception to bid farewell to the outgoing . The event was attended by the Charge D’Affaires Muhammad Hassan Wazir and Sardar Muhammad Khattak, Head of Chancery at the Pakistan Embassy here.
Ambassador Haq and his wife Nighat Manzoor, along with their daughter Saba Manzoor, were welcomed warmly by PWC members. PWC President Abdul Rauf Mughal presided over the event.
Ambassador Haq, who took charge two years ago on Jan. 4, 2015, is leaving after reaching superannuation. Speaking on the occasion Haq expressed his thanks to PWC and it’s Ladies Chapter for according him this honor by hosting a farewell luncheon for him and his family.
He was all praise for PWC and the events that it regularly hosted. “I am especially very happy to see Pakistani ladies in PWC Ladies Chapter perform so well in their skits and plays,” Haq remarked. He expressed appreciation for the Pakistani community in Riyadh and said that they were warm-hearted people and their cooperation and positivity was a great help to him and his team at the embassy.
Nighat Manzoor mentioned that she would never forget her stay in Riyadh.
“For me it has been a wonderful experience to meet with and exchange thoughts with the ladies of the Pakistani community here, especially such gifted and talented ladies of PWC Ladies Chapter,” Nighat said.
H.M. Fayyaz, VP coordination PWC, was full praise for Haq. “Ambassador Haq would be long remembered for his services for the Pakistani community in Saudi Arabia, especially for those in Riyadh,” Fayyaz added.
Qundeel Aymen, a senior member of PWC-LC, dedicated her poetry work in eulogy of Haq and termed him as the “Peoples Ambassador”. She presented framed poetry verses to the Ambassador.
Fayyaz Malik, senior member of PWC, enthralled the audience with his touching poem dedicated to Ambassador Haq.
A humorous skit was performed by the group of PWC-LC members that included Farah Ehsan, Qundeel, Dr. Farah Nadia, and a volunteer Mahnoor. The skit won high applause from all.
Faiz Al Najdi, advisor to PWC president, lauded Ambassador Haq. “The word government servant actually means a government officer who is tasked to serve the people. I have had had the honor to be with and witness the works of at least 6 former ambassadors It is my considered opinion that only Ambassador Manzoor Ul Haq and former Ambassador Shahid Kareemullah were the government servants in true sense of the word while the rest of them were mere government officers,” Najdi remarked.
Farah Ehsan, convener of PWC-LC, expressed her gratitude to the Ambassador, Nighat Manzoor and their daughter Saba Manzoor for gracing the occasion.
“Haq was a great ambassador who served the community diligently,” Farah added.
Mughal too paid rich tributes to Haq. He remarked that Haq was like an oasis in the desert of Saudi Arabia. “I feel proud to mention here that due to his humble personality and always caring attitude for the people, he can rightly be termed as a people’s Ambassador,” Rauf said.
The event was ably conducted by Ehsan Abbasi, PWC general secretary. The proceedings of the event got under way with the recitation of verses from Holy Qur’an by Shah Jehan Sherazi, VP media PWC, and a melodious Naat rendition by Ashiq Hussein, SVP PWC.
In appreciation of his services for the community, a memento shield was awarded to Ambassador Haq together with some gifts for Nighat Manzoor.
The event concluded with mesmerizing melodies from singer Aqib with his band ML Studio. He sang some classical and popular numbers and won appreciations from the audience.
