The Pakistan Society’s Jinnah Medal is awarded to Art Malik at its 68th Annual Dinner
London, United Kingdom, 21st June 2023 - The Guests of Honour at The Pakistan Society’s 68th Annual Dinner held in The Great Hall, Lincolns Inn, were the High Commissioner for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan HE Moazzam Ahmad Khan and Ambassador Leena Salim Moazzam.
The Keynote Speaker was the renowned Architect Prof. Yasmeen Lari HI, the Sir Arthur Marshall Visiting Professor of Sustainable Design and Visiting Fellow at Jesus College, Cambridge and Co-Founder of The Heritage Foundation of Pakistan who was recently awarded the 2023 Royal Gold Medal from the Royal Institute of British Architects. Professor Lari is challenging architecture and architects to become responsible for a future in architecture that works towards ecological justice and "treads lightly on the planet.” The event was sponsored by Bestway, UBL UK, British Pakistan Foundation and HBL Bank UK.
Founded in 1951 and based in London, The Pakistan Society aims to increase public knowledge in Britain of the arts, history, geography, economic life and institutions of Pakistan. Its patron is the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
The Pakistan Society’s Jinnah Medal was presented at the Annual Dinner to the renowned British Actor Mr. Art Malik at The Great Hall, Lincoln’s Inn where the founder of Pakistan, Quaid e Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah was Called to the Bar in 1896. In the citation address Mr Syed Mahmood Masood, Honorary Secretary of The Pakistan Society, said that “the award is being given to the Pakistan born British Actor, Art Malik, in recognition of his many notable achievements in an international career spanning 45 years to date in film, television and theatre, as well as for his philanthropic work for the visually impaired”.
He added that “Art Malik was born Athar Ul Haque Malik in Bahawalpur in 1952. Over the last four decades Art has been a constant on the global stage from London’s West End to Broadway in New York, with over 44 television productions and more than 34 feature films to his name, working with some of the best writers, actors, producers and directors in the industry. His latest film Disney’s The Little Mermaid is delighting cinema audiences around the world. A more recent and important aspect of his work has been as Co-Chairman of the Graham Layton Trust, which has provided free eye care to over 56 million patients in Pakistan through the Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust hospitals and clinics.”
The President of Pakistan, HE Dr. Arif Alvi, in his message as Patron, said:
“I am delighted to note that the Society for many decades has enhanced people-to-people ties and civil society cooperation between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. By promoting a deeper appreciation of Pakistani art, culture, literature, history and heritage, the Society continues to help nurture bonds of friendship, understanding and goodwill among our two nations and people. Pakistan and the United Kingdom’s relationship spans multiple areas and diverse domains. Our vibrant and dynamic Pakistan community, whom the Society so ably represents, is the linchpin of our bilateral ties. We value the important role played by the Society in carrying forward the historic legacy of Pakistan-UK partnership to our future generations.”
The High Commissioner for Pakistan, H.E. Moazzam Ahmad Khan, said:
“It is my great pleasure to extend to The Pakistan Society, on my behalf and on behalf of Ambassador Leena Salim Moazzam, our very best wishes on the occasion of its Annual Dinner 2023. Within the civil society space, The Pakistan Society is the flag bearer of the abiding friendship between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. It continues to play a commendable role in fostering greater understanding of Pakistan and its rich literary and cultural heritage and in this way, bringing Pakistan and the UK closer together. I take this opportunity to extend once again, to the esteemed Royal family and the people and government of the UK, out felicitations of the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.”
The Chairman of the Pakistan Society, Sir William Blackburne, said:
“Little did I imagine when writing my message to you in advance of last year’s annual dinner that the passage of a further year would mark not just Pakistan’s 75th anniversary and the platinum jubilee of Queen Elizabeth, but also and tragically the dreadful floods that were to ravage so much of Pakistan in the second half of the year and, as if that were not enough, the Queen’s death and unforgettable funeral last September. As I write a year later, we have just celebrated the crowning of our new monarch and his consort. This year’s dinner therefore gives us a chance to toast not only the health the President of Pakistan, who is the Society’s Patron, but also - and for the first time - the health of King Charles and Queen Camilla.”
The Markhor:
Commissioned by The Pakistan Society to commemorate 68 years of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh as Patron of the Society from 1953 to 2021. “The Markhor” (Capra falconeri), an indigenous and national animal of Pakistan, was chosen by the Executive Committee of The Pakistan Society to represent HRH The Duke of Edinburgh’s enduring commitment to conservation. He was a steadfast supporter of the Society throughout the period of his royal patronage, attending the Society’s 9th Annual Dinner in May 1963, its 50th Anniversary in 2001 and the 64th Annual Dinner in May 2017.
Published on : June 22, 2023
Last Update : June 22, 2023