Staff Report

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: A 14-member Pakistani Parliamentary delegation led by the Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser has embarked for Baku to participate in the First Trilateral Meeting of the Speakers of Parliaments of Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and Turkey.

This parliamentary visit is on the special invitation of the Speaker of Mili Majlis of Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova for participation in the first Trilateral Meeting of speakers of Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and Turkey which is going to be held in Baku Azerbaijan.

The formation of the Trilateral Platform was the idea of the Speaker of Mili Majlis of Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova and it was endorsed by Speakers of Pakistan and Turkey as symbol of close and cordial relations between three countries.

The Trilateral meeting will be preceded by the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Speakers of three Parliaments to be held on July 27, 2021 to deliberate upon enhancing regional cooperation and connectivity.

The deliberations regarding the content of ‘Baku Declaration’, and determining the venue of the Second Trilateral Meeting would also be made during committee meetings.

Apart from participating in the First Trilateral Meeting, the Pakistani Parliamentary delegation will have meetings with Azeri delegations; both Countries Azerbaijan and Pakistan will also sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation.

The visit will serve the interests of Pakistan’s policy to foster relations with brotherly countries and compliment the vision of regional connectivity.

The Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan will reiterate its support to Azerbaijan and will congratulate Azeri authorities on their great victory in the 44 days of the patriotic war.

The Speaker will also highlight the issue of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) during the visit.

The Pakistani Parliamentary delegation comprises MNAs Mr. Sahibzada Sibghatullah, Mr. Saleh Muhammad, Mr. Saif Ur Rehman, Mr. Shuakat Ali, Ms. Munaza Hussain, Mr. Murtaza Javed Abbasi, Mr. Fazal Muhammad Khan, Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz, Dr. Aisha Ghaus Pasha, Syed Mustafa Mehmood, Syed Hussain Tariq, Mr. Usama Qadri, and Ms. Naz Baloch.

ISLAMABAD – Selfridges has officially unveiled a new monumental public art commission by multi-disciplinary artist Osman Yousefzada at its Birmingham store. The iconic building, famous for its bulbous blue shape and large silver disks is now covered by the world’s largest canvas showcasing Osman Yousefzada’s black and pink patterned design.
This new art installation, co-commissioned with Ikon, Birmingham, entitled Infinity Pattern 1, is dramatically changing the Birmingham skyline as it stretches over 10,000 sq. meters (nearly 50 meters in height and 250 metres in length and weighing 5 tons).
A radical new landmark for the city, Infinity Pattern 1 addresses the issues of race, labour and migration, which have shaped Birmingham’s past and present, but also carries a deep sense of optimism, connectivity and hope. For Osman, who is Birmingham-born, and the son of Pakistani-Afghan migrants, the work contains some autobiographical elements, but at its core it stages the concept of a world without borders, whether physical or imaginary, represented by the endlessly tessellating pattern. This major public artwork – part of Selfridges long-established commitment to supporting creativity in the cities its stores call home – will remain in its completed state until the end of the year. It will be dismantled progressively next year whilst major renovation work to the store, started last winter, come to an end just ahead of the Commonwealth Games. Osman’s design was chosen following an international competition led by Ikon, Birmingham, the highly esteemed art gallery.
The commission is complemented by an in-store art exhibition, shop and art trail (also opening on 26^th July) all co-designed and co-curated with Ikon, as part of an ongoing creative relationship between the gallery and the store. The art exhibition and trail will expand the conversation around some of the topics raised by Infinity Pattern 1, through further new works by Osman, as well as pieces by Birmingham artists Hira Butt, Farwa Moledina and Maryam Wahid, to discover within Selfridges Birmingham store.
Osman’s additional output was developed through a recent residency at Birmingham’s School of Art in Fine Art Printmaking and Sculpture. The new pieces are anchored by a series of mixed-media works on paper, challenge the stereotypes of ‘The Model Migrant’ and the perception of the role of Brown Bodies in the Western world.
The exhibition shop showcases an exclusive collection including tote bags, blankets and vegan leather accessories all featuring the distinctive Infinity Pattern 1 design, alongside a curated selection of products celebrating the city of Birmingham.
Osman Yousefzada said: “The work is entrenched in autoethnographic elements of migration, community formation and how they happen, interact and settle. The work reflects my personal story and more widely my ethnic history and some of the symbolisms inherent to my culture.”
Selfridges Creative Director, Hannah Emslie said: “Selfridges is celebrating the communities of Birmingham through a unique art commission that represents both optimism and transformation. This new work by Osman Yousefzada is uplifting but also meaningful and deeply connected to the fabric and culture of the city. By changing the skyline – at a time when the city itself is changing – we hope to make the world brighter through creative expression, and the people of Birmingham even prouder of their iconic city.”
Jonathan Watkins, Ikon Director said: “After leading the search for an artist to work with Selfridges it’s exciting to see the transformation of Birmingham’s skyline thanks to Osman Yousefzada’s “Infinity Pattern” enveloping this iconic building with extraordinary visual impact. The work smartly conveys his ongoing preoccupation with the nature of cultural identity, a basic human need for belonging and the experience of migration, and these themes will be developed further through an exciting programme of events taking place instore as part of Ikon’s MigrantFestival in August. It couldn’t be more right for this city.”