ISLAMABAD - Polish Ambassador Piotr Opalinski and his spouse hosted a grand reception to mark the Independence and Armed Forces Days of his country here at a local hotel.
Federal Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain was the chief guest of the ceremony. National anthems of Pakistan and Poland were played while a cake was also cut by the chief guest at the stage. Piotr Opalinski had served in Islamabad for 6 years as deputy head of the mission of the polish embassy and also as chargés d’affaires in the past. He has returned to Islamabad after 10 years as an ambassador. He is fluent in Urdu and also expert in history, culture and politics of Pakistan. A large number of European ambassadors were also present on the occasion.
Rana Tanveer in his speech expressed solidarity with the people and the government of Poland on behalf of the people and government of Pakistan. He said Pakistan and Poland enjoy historic, close and cordial relations, marked by friendship, mutual trust and cooperation. He said Pakistan and Poland share views on a number of regional and international issues such as terrorism and extremism.
The federal minister said that over the last few months some very positive developments in the bilateral economic and commercial, educational and cultural, and political and defence relations have been witnessed. He also mentioned the holding of first Pakistan Economic Forum in Poland last year which was one of such developments. Furthermore he appreciated the bilateral trade which witnessed 20% growth during the last year.
Rana congratulated all the Polish present at the event as well as the people and the government of the Republic of Poland on their Independence Day and wished them best during their march of greater progress, prosperity and development. He said that he is confident that Ambassador Opalinski’s long and rich experience in Pakistan will further progress in ties between Pakistan and Poland. He also hoped the two countries can benefit massively through collaboration in the fields of energy, infrastructure development including railways, mining and oil and gas exploration. He concluded his speech by expressing gratitude to people and the ambassador of Poland for inviting him to join the celebrations.
Piotr Opalinski remarked that Pakistan is a really important country for Poland and since the independence of Pakistan people from Poland worked hard in many sectors of Pakistan. He further said that the first air chief of Pakistan was also a polish. While addressing the reception in Urdu, Opalinski welcomed all guests on behalf of the government of Poland and the Polish staff. He expressed that it made him happy that he was addressing in Pakistani language Urdu and that he would want to address many upcoming events in Urdu like photo exhibition and others.
Opalinski said that the freedom was never granted free to polish people; it came with a lot of sacrifices. While commemorating the independence of Poland which was regained on 11th November 1918 after 123 years of occupation and oppression, he said that people of Poland are enjoying 70 years of uninterrupted peace for the first time in a thousand years in the history of Poland.
He also told the gathering that he is the first in his family who is not affected by wars and his father, both grandfathers and their forefathers fought enemies on many frontlines and their slogan was – “for our freedom and yours.”
The reception was followed by an exhibition on “Air Commodore Wadysaw Turowicz, the Polish Eagle on Pakistani Sky” which displayed the photos documenting the history of Polish pilots, who served in PAF after the independence. It displayed one of the best known Polish Air Commodore Wadysaw Turowicz – a man devoted to safeguarding Pakistan’s airspace for over 30 years.
–The writer is a freelance contributor.