By: The World Ambassador
TWA
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Karachi, — The Embassy of Romania to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, in collaboration with the Pakistan Romania Business Council (PRBC), hosted a grand reception at the Mövenpick Hotel, Karachi, to mark the early celebration of the 107th Anniversary of the National Day of Romania.
The event brought together an esteemed gathering of diplomats, senior government officials, business leaders, media representatives, and friends of Romania, reflecting the growing goodwill and multifaceted partnership between the two nations.
The ceremony commenced with the national anthems of Romania, the European Union, and Pakistan, setting the tone for an evening of celebration and friendship.
In his opening remarks, H.E. Dr. Dan Stoenescu, Ambassador of Romania to Pakistan, underscored the longstanding friendship and deep cooperation between Romania and Pakistan across diverse fields, including 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,” said Ambassador Stoenescu. “Romania and Pakistan share a commitment to dialogue, development, and solidarity. Karachi, the Sindh Governorate, and Romania share a historical connection rooted 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 cooperation symbolizes the spirit of modernization and mutual trust that continues to define our relations.”
To commemorate 61 years of diplomatic relations between Romania and Pakistan, the Ambassador inaugurated a special exhibition 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 traced key milestones, official visits, and moments of bilateral engagement since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1964.
During the ceremony, Ambassador Stoenescu presented awards of recognition to distinguished individuals for their outstanding contributions toward strengthening bilateral ties:
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Mr. Atif Farooqi — for 25 years of exemplary service in promoting Pakistan–Romania trade relations.
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Mr. Suhail Shamim Firpo, Chairman PRBC — for 16 years of leadership in advancing bilateral economic cooperation.
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Dr. Kaiser Rafiq, Chairman Discover Pakistan TV — for enhancing cultural and media collaboration.
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Major (R) Masood Ahmed Qazi, Honorary Consul of Romania in Peshawar — for dedicated consular service.
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Mr. Anwar Dar, Chairman Gift University — for launching the Pakistan–Romania Growth Window powered by PRBC.
The Ambassador also announced new PRBC appointments, including:
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Mr. Khawaja Atiq Ahmad as Chief of Global Leads,
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Mr. Mansoor Zafar as Regional Lead for Transport & Logistics,
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Dr. Akmal Sultan as Regional Lead for Health, and
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Mr. Amjad Hussain Shah, GM PTV, as Regional Lead for Culture.
A highlight of the evening was the ballet performance “Symphony of Light” by acclaimed Romanian artists Alina Ciceo and Radu Domșa from Cluj, Romania, presented under the Ballet Beyond Borders initiative — a symbol of cultural harmony and artistic excellence.
The celebration also marked the beginning of the Romanian Culture Days in Pakistan, a series of events showcasing Romania’s art, music, and heritage, aimed at deepening people-to-people ties and celebrating shared values of creativity, peace, and friendship.
The event concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony symbolizing the enduring friendship between Romania and Pakistan, followed by a gala dinner attended by dignitaries and guests.
The Karachi celebration officially launched a series of events leading up to Romania’s National Day on December 1, reaffirming the spirit of unity, friendship, and cultural exchange that continues to strengthen Romania–Pakistan relations.
