Zubair Qureshi
The UAE Embassy on Wednesday launched “Let’s Give Everyone a [Clean] Hand” programme for the schools, colleges, universities and orphanages of Islamabad.
The drive includes distribution of hand sanitizers to various schools, colleges, universities and orphanages of Islamabad to combat coronavirus.
In this regard, UAE Ambassador Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Al-Zaabi visited the Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) and handed over 4,000 hand sanitizers and books on the UAE culture and history to Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Ali.
QAU VC had organized a small but decent reception in honour of the visiting dignitary.
The ambassador while speaking at the handing-over ceremony expressed the UAE government’s resolve to strengthen relations with Pakistan in all areas.
Pakistan he said was like a home to the late Founder of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan and the bilateral relations between the two countries are established on mutual love, regard and trust.
Over 1 million Pakistanis are contributing to the economy of the UAE and of Pakistan as well, and the UAE leadership highly valued their positive role, he said.
The UAE envoy said the hygiene campaign under the “Let’s Give Everyone a [Clean] Hand” aims at assisting Pakistan’s government in efforts to combat COVID-19.
Pakistan has already done well against the pandemic and even the World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized the country’s landmark achievement against the virus including it among the seven countries the world should learn from in the fight against coronavirus.
The UAE ambassador said hand hygiene plays an important role and is the first and very effective shield against the pandemic, so it was thought befitting to distribute hand sanitizers among the educational institutions.
Ambassador Zaabi said the UAE leadership has always given importance to assist Pakistan (besides economic cooperation) in healthcare and education sectors as they establish people-to-people strong ties and are meant for generations.
Even presently, the UAE government-run projects are underway in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), South Waziristan and Balochistan, said the ambassador.
All across Pakistan, you can see numerous educational institutions and state-of-the-art hospitals that reflect the UAE government’s commitment to contribute to Pakistan’s development, said the ambassador.
The Ambassador said the definition and dynamics of diplomacy were changing and today, more focus was being given to soft or cultural diplomacy.
The UAE embassy realizing the need of introducing the UAE culture, history, geography, etc has set up a corner at the National Library of Islamabad where a large number of reference material, books are available to researchers and students who want to learn about the country.
Vice Chancellor of the QAU, Prof Muhammad Ali while thanking the ambassador said the goodwill gesture would go a long way in collaboration between the university and the embassy.
The university’s regular classes are commencing from Sept 21 and this gift of hand sanitizers is quite timely and useful, he said. The Embassy has selected Pakistan Sweet Home for handing over hand sanitizers on Sept 17 (today), said an official of the embassy.
