Naveed Miraj & Shahid Qureshi
KARACHI: The Ethiopian Embassy in Pakistan has celebrated the New Ethiopian Year 2017 with national zeal and fervour in Islamabad and the country’s financial hub Karachi.
According to a press release issued by the embassy on Thursday federal ministers, government officials, diplomatic corps, business and religious community, Ethiopian Diaspora, media and the civil society were present on the occasion.
A famous Ethiopian Troupe Biftu Oromia joined the celebrations from Ethiopia in these celebrations and enthralled the audience with their stunning performances. They performed melodious traditional songs and cultural dances not only on the eve of the Ethiopian New Year in Karachi but also in Islamabad on September 11.
The Embassy expressed its gratitude to its major collaborators including the Governor House Sindh, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bukhari Groups, AirSial, Pakistan Ethiopia Business Council and COMSTECH.
The celebrations, which featured Ethiopian cultural performances, manifest the growing collaborations between the two countries.
In Karachi, the New Year celebrations and cultural performances were held at the Governor House and the Residence of the Honorary Consul of Ethiopia in Karachi Ibrahim Khalid Tawab. Special Envoy and Ambassador of Ethiopia to Pakistan Dr. Jemal Beker Abdula, and other high-profile guests including UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan Mohamed Yahya, Karachi Port Trust Chairman Syed Syedain Raza Zaidi, former Minister for Commerce and Industry Khalid Tawab also attended the event.
The New Year celebrations were also held in Islamabad which was followed by the traditional songs and dances from Amhara, Oromo, Somali, Afar, Tigray, the southern part of Ethiopia and other culturally diverse areas.
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted the cultural troupe of Ethiopia who stunned the audience of more than 500 individuals from all walks of life at its auditorium.
Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, Culture and National Heritage. Attaullah Tarar was the chief guest on occasion, while Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis, Human Resource Development, Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony, Salik Hussain was the guest of honour.
Additional Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hamid Asghar Khan, President of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari and Pakistan Africa Association Chairman Zafar Bakhtawari were also present.
Ambassador Dr. Jemal Beker addressing the New Year Celebration Ceremony, expressed gratitude to the government and people of Pakistan for joining the Ethiopian Embassy Islamabad in the New Year Celebrations and appreciating the Ethiopian cultural diversity.
He explained to the audience about Ethiopian distinct feature of having its own calendar which is seven years behind the Gregorian Calendar and falls on September 11th or 12th during a leap year.
The Ambassador said Ethiopia has its own calendar with 13 months adding that each of the 12 months has 30 days along with the 13th month which has five days or six during each leap year.
Dr. Jemal Beker said the Ethiopian New Year—Enkutatash gives a message of optimism and hope and that drives the Ethiopian nation towards peace and prosperity.
Both the Federal Ministers and the ICCI President also addressed the gathering and congratulated the government and people of Ethiopia on their New Year 2017.
Meanwhile, traditional clothes and the Ethio-Pakistan Fraternity Awards were also distributed among the chief guests, the ICCI President and the Pakistan Africa Association on the occasion.
A two-year book on the Ethiopian Embassy Diplomatic Journey in Islamabad was also launched on the occasion.
