GUJRAT: To commemorate the 55 years of Pakistani diaspora in Norway, a busy square in Kharian town has been named as `Oslo Chowk’.

Norwegian ambassador to Pakistan Per Albert Ilsaas inaugurated on Saturday the Oslo Chowk which is located close to the bus stop where many Pakistani migrant workers embarked on their journey towards Europe in 1970.

Aneela Khan, the political secretary of Norwegian Embassy and prominent figures from Pakistani community in Norway who belong to the area, were also present at the occasion.

Earlier, a seminar to mark 55 years of Pakistanis migration to Norway was held at the Hafiz Hayat Campus of University of Gujrat. UoG Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Zahoorul Haq presided the event and Norwegian envoy was the chief guest.

Former member of Oslo parliament Khalid Mehmood, Mir Fazal Hussain, Raja Tahir Sher and others were also among the guests.

Speaking to the participants, the ambassador said that the bilateral relationship between the Kingdom of Norway and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan goes back to the foundation of Pakistan in 1947.

Norway established its first embassy in Islamabad in 1976, preceded by an honorary consulate in Karachi. Today, Norway also maintains an honorary consulate in Lahore. In 2023, the two countries marked 75 years of diplomatic relations with Pakistan.

Pakistanis were the first non-Western immigrant group making way to Norway in the 1970s.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2025