ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of the European Union Dr Riina Kionka hosted a Team Europe Garden Party at her residence.

Attended by diplomats, representatives of the civil society and friends of the EU, the event took advantage of a lovely May evening in Islamabad.

Ambassador Kionka welcomed the guests, saying, “This is a party by Team Europe for Team Europe, for our best friends here, in Pakistan, to celebrate the European Union which started as a peace project.”

She said: “We have no chief guests or rather you are all, each of you, our chief guests. Each of you who is here is one of our primary partners. This is what tonight is all about, to enjoy the evening, here together, in each other’s company. We are with the people who have helped us the most and keep helping us to advance EU Pakistan relations.”

Gender and child rights specialist Valerie Khan said: “The evening was lovely, creative, young and a breath of fresh air. It may be a new model for diplomatic exchanges.”

Poet and author Haris Khalique said: “It was such a relaxed evening, very unusual compared to other diplomatic parties. There were no flag hoistings, anthems played and inconsequential speeches. I have been thinking that like Europe, we also should come together as South Asia.”

The German embassy supplied the lavish buffet, while the other EU member states provided refreshments.

The third European Film Festival in Pakistan begins on Wednesday at the Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA). The festival features film screenings, panel talks with filmmakers, actors and writers, and interactive activities.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2024