Display of Pakistan’s soft power enamors international audience
Embassy of Pakistan Washington DC today showcased Pakistan’s rich cultural diversity, economic and tourism potential during Passport DC’s annual “Around the World Embassy Tour” program. The indoor event attracted nearly two thousand attendees mostly comprising of US citizens from Washington DC and other states, nationals of other countries and Pakistani-Americans. It included diplomats, government officials, people working and doing businesses in DC, IT professionals from United States and South Asia, media persons and others.
Taking place after a gap of three years due to COVID pandemic, the event started at 09:30 am, much before its scheduled time, and continued till 1600 hrs with continued arrival of the guests in large numbers and their visits to various stalls.
Passport DC is a month-long journey around the world highlighting DC’s thriving international diplomatic community.
Various corners of jam-packed ground floor and Jamshed Marker Hall of the Embassy, exhibiting soft power of the country, became center of attraction of the visitors in the backdrop of Pakistani folk tunes. The stalls included stitched and unstitched designer clothes, paintings of renowned Pakistani artist, books, photos of historical places, handcrafts, artifacts, red-salt, sports goods and agricultural products including basmati rice. A special focus was laid on exhibiting and introducing Pakistan’s economic prowess to attract US investments in the country. The American guests queued at henna stall to have their hands painted. The visitor also enjoyed rich menu of Pakistani food that was served to introduce unique tastes of Pakistani cuisine. The guests also showed keen interest in the stall set up for projection of Urdu language.
Ambassador Masood Khan thanked the visitors for their enthusiastic participation. He went from stall to stall and introduced Pakistani culture and artifacts to the guests. During his interaction with the visitors, the ambassador expressed the hope that the event would serve not only to introduce Pakistan to the US and the international audience but would also help in promoting greater people-to-people and cultural ties in the near future. Likewise, Mrs. Ambassador also received the guests and highlighted richness of Pakistani culture during her interactions with the visitors.
In their views, the guests thanked the Ambassador and the Embassy of Pakistan for providing them with an opportunity to experience richness of Pakistani cultural diversity and economic and tourism potential of the country. Terming it a “wonderful and fabulous experience”, the guests observed that the event has stimulated their aspiration to visit Pakistan.
Washington D.C, May 07, 2022
