Embassy hosts memorable evening to mark 70th independence anniversary 
celebrations that coincide with ending of Ramadan. By Kamran Rehmat
As part of the ongoing celebrations of the 70th anniversary of Pakistan’s independence, the Embassy of Pakistan organised a delectable Mango & Fruit Suhoor on the eve of the end of the holy month of Ramadan at the Ritz-Carlton hotel. 
It was attended by Qatari officials, diplomatic corps, including ambassadors from many countries, dignitaries, the business community, and members from the print and electronic media as well as prominent Pakistanis living in the State of Qatar. 
Although the spread — made up of a number of savoury traditional dishes of Pakistan — was lavish, there was one clear winner at the end of the day: the Pakistani mango — to anoint a collective noun for the several varieties on offer!
While guests from all walks of life — including smartly turned out ladies and gents — enjoyed the full spectrum of what was customised into a very Pakistani ambiance, the Pakistani mango effortlessly stole the show to reinforce its reputation as a world leader. 
The guests couldn’t rave enough as they settled into a memorable evening of friendly chatter that ranged from the resilience of Qatar in the face of the blockade, the Ramadan, the weather and last but not least, the fortunes of the participating teams ahead of the Football World Cup in Russia.
As well as intermingling with each other, they also took the opportunity to interact with Shahzad Ahmad, the outgoing ambassador of Pakistan to the State of Qatar, and generously praised his contribution.
Talking to Community, Ambassador Ahmad expressed satisfaction at his nearly four-and-a-half-year stint that saw a major upswing in bilateral ties with Qatar. 
“Personally, it brings me great happiness and satisfaction to have overseen the deepening of our mutually beneficial relationship with Qatar. The increased engagement in various spheres and a flurry of trade pacts during this time have greatly bolstered our relationship with the brotherly State of Qatar,” the ambassador noted. 
“We are extremely thankful to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the Government of the State of Qatar and the brotherly Qatari people, for their generosity and facilitation in helping our community serve to the best of their abilities,” he said. 
The evening came to a close with a performance by an artiste whose traditional dance was in a colourful attire. He spun like a swinging fan with his deft moves, which spellbound the audience against the backdrop of a colourful logo signifying Pakistan’s 70th independence anniversary. The general consensus was that it was second only to the night’s mango beat.