It was a special occasion indeed when the Argentine ambassador and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Rodolfo Martin Saravia held his festive, large garden party this week. There was even a chance to loosen one’s muscles to music, for those feeling young at heart.

The occasion was three in one; Ambassador Saravia had recently turned 68 years, so it was a birthday party. Then it was the marking of his two years as dean of the diplomatic corps, an extra duty bestowed on the longest serving ambassador or high commissioner in a country. Thirdly, he celebrated the well over 10 years he has been his country’s ambassador to Pakistan.

Somebody joked that the three-fold occasion should be written 68+2+10=80. No, the ambassador thought that made him sound old. Certainly, his looks and cheerful personality could easily mistake him for a much younger man.

"He is approachable by everyone, and he is helpful to all of us, irrespective of age and position," said a foreign diplomat, and she added that now when she was soon leaving herself, she would take with her knowledge that the dean had given her.

In his speech, Ambassador Saravia stressed how happy he was for having had the opportunity to serve in Pakistan, which had become like a second home country. He had seen many positive developments over the years, and he felt with Pakistanis when there were difficulties. He said that he had a busy time due to the extra duties as dean, but that it was all enjoyable. The only thing that could have been better at the party was that his wife had had the opportunity to be in Pakistan on the festive occasion.

The couple of hundred guests included senior civil servants, foreign diplomats and UN representatives, retired diplomats, men and women from arts and culture, the civil society and the private sector. Among the prominent guests were Aziz Ahmad Chaudhry, the foreign secretary, PPP leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim, and former Azad Kashmir prime minister Barrister Sultan Mehmood.

— Text and photo: Atle Hetland & Shahbaz Chaudary

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2014