Pakistan values friendship with UK – High Commissioner’s address at 57th annual dinner to Pakistan Society

 

London: Pakistan fully appreciates the support of UK on Pakistan’s endeavours in defeating terrorism and obscurantist forces, yet further support of UK is needed in various spheres including changing media perceptions and gaining support in the EU on the issues of importance to Pakistan said Pakistan’s High Commissioner to UK Mr. Wajid Shamsul Hasan in an address on the occasion of 57th Annual Dinner of Pakistan Society held at the Lincoln’s Inn, Wednesday, 26 May. Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles UK’s special representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan was the chief guest at the well attended dinner.

 

The High Commissioner said Pakistan alone cannot be expected of controlling the situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border though the London Conference has set the ball rolling in seeking desired peace and stability in Afghanistan and has taken into account Pakistan’s concerns which have been made known to our international partners and the government of Afghanistan yet few important steps still needed to be taken.

 

The High Commissioner said that immediate measures should be taken to curb the flow of arms and latest communication equipment into Pakistan from Afghanistan as well as international community should cooperate for the repatriation of 3 million Afghan refugees from Pakistan to their country.

 

He also said that eradication of poppy in Afghanistan is equally important to discourage those elements who want to perpetuate instability in Afghanistan and the region besides stopping drone attacks immediately as these attacks are counterproductive and hurting our sovereignty.

 

Speaking on the occasion Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles shared his vision of Pakistan and said that “Pakistan was, is and will a proud Muslim country” and will democracy is moving the way as it moves in all democratic nations. He gave an overview of his memories about Pakistan and people of Pakistan. He said that both Pakistan and UK share so many values and people of both countries should work together to move it on further.

 

The dinner was attended by Chairman of Pakistan Society General (Retd) Palmer, Secretary Ms. Shama Hussain Scholar Victoria Schofield and prominent members.

 

The Pakistan Society Award for 2010 has gone to former British Army officer Geoffrey Langlands in recognition of his outstanding services to education. A citation read by Lt. General (retd) Anthony Palmer, Chairman, Pakistan Society, at the 57th annual dinner of the Society at the grandeur great hall of Lincoln’s Inn on Wednesday evening, said Langlands arrived in the Indian subcontinent seventy years ago ready for adventure. He never left.

 

Major Langlands was present at the birth of Pakistan in 1947 and has spent more than half a century teaching there. He taught mathematics at Lahore’s Aitcheson College.

At 92 years old the former commando works full-time as Principal of the Langlands School and College in Chitral near the upper reaches of the Hindu Kush Mountains. He is responsible for 900 pupils between the ages of 4 to 18.

Major Langlands has survived being a teacher, a commander in the last war and being kidnapped at the age of 70. He is very respected by many distinguished people in Pakistan and the UK.

The award was presented by Pakistan High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan and was received on behalf of Major Langlands by noted author and journalist Victoria Schofield who will make arrangement to deliver the award to the doughty teacher.

 

 

Click here to view the full text of High Commissioner's speech

 

 

May 27, 2010

 

 

Last updated: 27 May 2010