KARACHI, Sept 25: Ather Sharif of Hamdard Public School and Osman Tirmizi of Karachi Grammar School won in the senior and junior school category respectively in children’s poster and painting contest here on Wednesday.

The event was organised by the Japan Cultural Centre of the Consulate General of Japan Karachi in collaboration with the community development department of the city government to mark the golden jubilee of diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Japan.

Sindh minister for health, Maj-Gen Ahsan Ahmed, who was the chief guest on the occasion, inaugurated the exhibition and later distributed prizes among the winners of the contest.

In the senior school category, the second position also went to Minhaj Shakoor of Hamdard Public School while a student of the ABSA School for the Deaf, Faraz Ahmed, was declared third.

Consolation prizes in this category were given to Kinza Mehdi (Nasra School), Rafiah Khan (City School), Philip Van (St. Patrick’s High School) and Azeem Iqbal of the Foundation Public School.

In the junior school category, the second prize was won by Tooba Shaiq of Hamdard Public School, while Javeria Nadeem of Beacon Light Academy won the third prize.

Consolation prizes in this category were given to Maheen (Toddlers and Junior Academy), Kilat Fatima (Nasra Pre-Primary School) and Sundus Alvi (City School).

The Nazim Karachi Award went to Junaid Ahmed of St. Gregory’s High School, while the Consul General of Japan Award was won by Ammar Muhammad Waseem of Beacon House School.

Maj-Gen Ahsan Ahmed, speaking on the occasion, called for making concerted efforts to further strengthen the ties between Pakistan and Japan.

He appreciated the Japan Cultural Centre Karachi for organising the event every year and providing opportunities to the children to exhibit their creative abilities and gain confidence.

He felt that the Japanese Consulate’s dedication and commitment towards promotion of better cultural understanding and stronger cultural ties between the two countries was matchless.

The minister said there was no doubt that Japan was one of the best friends of Pakistan. “This is the 50th year of our deep mutual friendship which officially started on April 28, 1952, with the establishment of diplomatic ties between our two countries. Since then both the countries have been with each other in good as well as in bad times,” he said.

He pointed out that in almost all the major sectors Japanese investment and aid had played a pivotal role giving a boost to Pakistan’s economy.—APP