Zubair Qureshi
President Dr Arif Alvi and First Lady Samina Alvi have expressed deep gratitude to President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, First Lady of Azerbaijan Mrs. Mehriban Aliyev for initiating various social welfare projects in Pakistan.
They were attending 100 wheelchairs distribution ceremony and an exhibition showcasing disabled persons’ artwork and handicrafts with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation of Azerbaijan held at the President House.
The event was attended by the government officials, MPs, public and political figures, media representatives.
Expressing satisfaction with the high-level fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan, President Dr Arif Alvi noted a number of projects for welfare and assistance to the poor and the needy were also executed by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the past and the current initiative is also a gesture of goodwill and symbol of fraternal relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.
He said that the full realisation of the rights and well-being of disabled persons demanded enormous time and collective efforts and along with the distribution of customized wheelchairs, exhibition of paintings and handicrafts by special persons also served to bring out their potential and boost their self-confidence and showcase once again that disability is not inability.
The president and the First Lady also viewed the art and handicraft work by the PWDs and admired their creative genius.
Welcoming the special persons and participants of the ceremony on behalf of the President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, first lady of Azerbaijan Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, Ambassador of Azerbaijan Ali Alizada said the rights and freedom, protection, decent living conditions of all persons with disabilities in the Republic of Azerbaijan were guaranteed by the Constitution of Azerbaijan and as in Pakistan, their well-being is also under the constant attention of Azerbaijani government.
The Azerbaijan Ambassador emphasized that a special role in the protection of persons with disabilities in Azerbaijan and beyond belongs also to Heydar Aliyev Foundation of Azerbaijan and by the initiative and support of the President of Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO, Hilale-Pakistan, First Lady of Azerbaijan Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva Heydar Aliyev Foundation continues implementation of the different healthcare, education, development, social and humanitarian projects in Azerbaijan and beyond, including in brotherly Pakistan, with the aim to serve humanity and strengthen friendship between two fraternal nations. He extended his gratitude to the Foundation and its President and while mentioning the various programmes for the welfare of disabled persons running by the Government of Pakistan Ambassador Ali Alizada thanked Dr. Arif Alvi, President of Pakistan for hosting this valuable event at Aiwan-e-Sadr and for his continued personal attention to this noble cause. Earlier the president recalled his visit to Azerbaijan for the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in 2019 and shared his impression by the special attention, care and hospitality shown to him in Azerbaijan.
Speaking about the 44 days Patriotic War of Azerbaijan, the President congratulated Government and people of Azerbaijan over the liberation of its lands from occupation and victory on the aggressor country Armenia and asked to convey his special felicitation to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.
