ISLAMABAD, DEC 04 (DNA) -Indian response to Pakistan’s goodwill gesture to open Kartarpur Corridor was unfortunate, however, Pakistan is still pinning hopes to strengthen SAARC cooperation in future.This was stated by Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue, and Economic Affairs Asad Umer while speaking at the inaugural plenary of 11th South Asia Economic Summit (SAES) held under the auspices of Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in Islamabad on Tuesday.

AMBASSADOR HAMAD OBAID SALEM AL ZAABI HOSTS GRAND RECEPTION; ARMY CHIEF GEN BAJWAR CHIEF GUEST

ISLAMABAD, DEC 04 (DNA) – Colorful traditional dances; beautifully decorated venue and delicious Arabian cuisines were the hallmark of 47^th UAE National Day Celebrations. Presence of Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa ostensibly made the event more significant.

ISLAMABAD, DEC 04: The Government of Japan has conferred the prestigious decoration, The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette upon Dr. Muhammad Amin of Pakistan in recognition of his significant contributions for promoting Japan-Pakistan relations by establishing linkages between the two countries through language and literature.

The Decoration Conferment ceremony was held today at the official residence of H.E. Mr. Takashi Kurai, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan. On behalf of the Government of Japan, Ambassador Kurai conferred decoration upon Dr. Muhammad Amin. The ceremony was attended by the family, relatives, friends and colleagues of Dr. Amin.

Dr. Muhammad Amin went on the Japanese Government’s MEXT scholarship to Japan in 1971 and afterwards obtained a PhD degree in Sociology from the Waseda University Tokyo. A well versed and fluent in Japanese language, Dr. Amin earned the title of being the first person ever to produce “Japan to Urdu Dictionary” in 1988. Dr. Amin is an author of 35 books and many of which are related to Japanese language, literature and culture. He is also known as a pioneer in Urdu Haiku and a collection of his Haiku poetry published in 1981 is regarded as the first creative Haiku book in Urdu language.

H.E. Mr. Takashi Kurai, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, while speaking on the occasion congratulated Dr. Amin for receiving this prestigious decoration by the Government of Japan which is an acknowledgement of his dedicated efforts for the promotion of Japan Pakistan relations. Ambassador said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Pakistan in 1952, the mutual cooperation has been steadily growing between both the nations in economic, political and cultural forums.

“I believe that cultural relationship, in particular, contributes to deepen mutual trust and understanding among the people which should be the very foundation of any relationship between the countries. In this respect, all the efforts made by Dr. Muhammad Amin, have been of tremendous significance to our bilateral relationship over the years” said Ambassador Kurai.

While admiring ceaseless dedication and efforts of Dr. Amin in promoting Japanese language and literature in Pakistan, Ambassador Kurai expressed his sincere hope that this contribution will further promote and strengthen the cultural relations as well as people to people contacts between Japan and Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD, DEC 03 (DNA) – Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar has said that Pakistan is among the countries blessed with beautiful natural scenery and landscapes where tourism can be promoted in a befitting manner through an effective strategy.

ISLAMABAD, DEC 03 (DNA) -The Indonesian Embassy, Islamabad in collaboration of Saaya Association organized on Monday a lively program to observe the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and distributed wheel-chairs.