ISLAMABAD, Nov 04 (APP): The Embassy of Romania to Pakistan, in collaboration with the Pakistan Romania Business Council (PRBC), hosted a grand reception in Karachi to celebrate the 107th National Day of Romania, reaffirming the long-standing friendship and expanding cooperation between Romania and Pakistan.
The event, held at the local Hotel, was graced by distinguished members of the diplomatic corps, senior government officials, business leaders, media representatives, and friends of Romania, said in a PRBC press release issued here.
The evening began with the national anthems of Romania, the European Union, and Pakistan. In his welcoming address, Dr. Dan Stoenescu, Ambassador of Romania to Pakistan, highlighted the deep-rooted friendship and growing cooperation between Romania and Pakistan in fields such as trade, education, culture, and diplomacy.
“Tonight, we celebrate not only Romania’s National Day but also the enduring partnership and mutual respect between our peoples. Romania and Pakistan share a commitment to dialogue, development, and solidarity. Karachi, the Sindh Governorate, and Romania share a historical connection rooted in their cooperation in the oil and refinery sectors, dating back to the 1960s and 1970s, when Romanian engineers and companies contributed to the development of Pakistan’s refining infrastructure. This collaboration laid the groundwork for enduring industrial and technical partnerships, reflecting the spirit of mutual trust and modernization between the two nations.,” said Ambassador Stoenescu.
On this occasion, the Ambassador of Romania also inaugurated a special exhibition marking 61 years of diplomatic relations between Romania and Pakistan, featuring archival documents and historical photographs provided by the National Archives of Romania and the Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania.
The exhibition showcased key moments, official visits, and milestones that have shaped the longstanding friendship between the two nations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1964.
The ceremony also featured a series of awards and recognitions presented by the Romanian Ambassador to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to strengthening bilateral relations:
Atif Farooqi for 25 years of exemplary service in promoting Pakistan–Romania trade relations. Suhail Shamim Firpo, Chairman PRBC for 16 years of leadership in advancing bilateral economic cooperation. Dr. Kaiser Rafiq, Chairman Discover Pakistan TV for enhancing cultural and media collaboration between both nations. Major (R) Masood Ahmed Qazi, Honorary Consul of Romania in Peshawar for dedicated consular service. Anwar Dar, Chairman Gift University for launching the Pakistan–Romania Growth Window powered by PRBC.
Several new PRBC appointments were also announced by the Ambassador, including: Khawaja Atiq Ahmad as Chief of Global Leads, Mansoor Zafar as Regional Lead for Transport & Logistics, Dr. Akmal Sultan as Regional Lead for Health, and Amjad Hussain Shah, GM PTV, as Regional Lead for Culture.
The cultural highlight of the evening was an exclusive ballet performance “Symphony of Light” by renowned Romanian artists Alina Ciceo and Radu Dom?a from Cluj, Romania, presented under the Ballet Beyond Borders initiative.
The celebration in Karachi also marked the beginning of the Romanian Culture Days in Pakistan, a series of events dedicated to promoting Romanian art, music, and heritage across the country. Through these cultural initiatives, Romania aims to build stronger people-to-people connections and highlight the shared values of creativity and friendship between Romania and Pakistan.
The ceremony concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony, symbolizing the friendship between Romania and Pakistan, followed by a gala dinner attended by all guests.
The celebration in Karachi marked the beginning of a series of events leading up to Romania’s National Day on December 1, reaffirming the spirit of unity, friendship, and cultural exchange between the two nations.