Syed Zaheer Hussain Naqvi, one of Islamabad’s oldest real estate owners, and his wife and sons, hosted their annual mango party for diplomats and other guests recently.

In spite of rainy weather looming overhead, the event was well attended by a dozen ambassadors, diplomats and other guests from home and abroad.

“It was all done in the best way of first class Pakistani hospitality,” remarked a retired ambassador.

The dean of the diplomatic corps, Turkmenistan Ambassador Atajan Movalmov was in attendance, accompanied by his wife and his son and daughter-in-law.

The acting ambassador of the European Union, Anne Marchal, was another cheerful guest, but she had to leave early to attend another event.

A Pakistani guest, a Rotary member like the host, said it is indeed important to have a mango party for diplomats in the capital.

“Mango is the king of fruits,” he said, adding: “We have other events in the pipeline; the ‘big Eid’ and Independence Day on Aug 14, and also the marking of the current government’s one year in power.”

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2019