‘Sketch Jinnah’ competition held

To mark the anniversary of passing away of the ‘Father of Nation’, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, falling on September 11, and aligned with the ongoing celebrations of 70th anniversary of the Day of Independence of Pakistan falling August on 14, a ‘Sketch Jinnah’ competition was held among 6,000 Pakistani students from seven branches of Pakistan School System, Beacon House and City School.

The event was publicised through private media and the Embassy’s WhatsApp and email with 24,000 subscribers. The entries received were submitted to Stephen Grant, artist/arts teacher, Muscat Private School to adjudge the winners.

On September 15, certificates of appreciation were awarded to winner Ahmad Abdul Hamid, grade 10, Pakistan School Musannah, and runner-up Rasil Ahmed Khulaksha, grade 9, Centre for Special Education Pakistan School Muscat (PSM) by H H Julanda al Said, chief guest at the final and closing ceremony of ‘Stars Light and Syed Fayyaz Group 2017 - Oman-Pakistan Friendship Cup’, a five-match bilateral Hockey Series, contested before a packed stadium of spectators.

It is worth mentioning that a brilliant student from Centre for Special Education, PSM has previously won the Sketching competition in September 2016 on the occasion of bilateral visit of former adviser to PM on Foreign Affairs.

There are 272,000 Pakistanis in Oman, accounting for Pakistan’s fifth largest expat community worldwide; events to mark the 70th Independence Day of Pakistan have been celebrated with unprecedented enthusiasm across the sultanate for six weeks in cities including Buraimi, Suwaiq, Salalah, Muscat, Sohar, Seeb etc.

The final match of the Hockey Series ‘Oman-Pakistan Friendship Cup’ was broadcast live on Oman TV and concluded the celebrations of Independence Day of Pakistan with added flavour of Oman-Pakistan Friendship.

Ambassador of Pakistan to the sultanate H E Ali Javed’s live interview on the morning of August 14 set the record for most viewed live interview with any person.