Some of the oldest residents of Qatar among the Pakistani expatriate community from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan recently held a dinner reception for Pakistani Ambassador to Qatar Shahzad Ahmad.
Hosted at the residence of Haji Gul Mohammad, a prominent leader of Pakistan’s Pakhtun community living in Doha, the reception was attended by select guests from the Pakistani community and officers of Pakistan embassy.
The Pakistani envoy mingled with the community members and listened to their problems. Ambassador Ahmad assured his embassy and staff’s complete co-operation in facilitating the members of Pashtun community.
“I am here today not just to speak to you but more importantly listen to you. You can share with me any problems that you might face and I will try best to facilitate you in every which way possible,” Ahmad told the audience of tribal leaders representing different tribes from Pakistan.
“I am happy to see you all gather here and it was a pleasure talking to you. I am humbled by this kind gesture and the hospitality you have shown,” the ambassador told the gathering.
The ambassador said the doors of the embassy were always open for members of the Pakhtun community. He personally monitors, he said, the progress of work at the embassy and that everyone coming there is properly facilitated.
However, he added, if the community members had any complaints regarding anything related to the work of embassy, they could contact him directly at the embassy.
“I am aware of the problems that some of you face. But I assure you that we are working to find solutions to your problems as soon as we can,” the ambassador added.
He encouraged them to come directly to his office if they faced any problems. “My office is always open for you,” he added.
Welcoming the Pakistani envoy at the reception, Maulana Qayamuddin, the ex-Ameer of Jamiat-e-Ullema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Welfare Wing in Qatar, said all prominent members from different tribes including Mehsud, Bangash, Wazir, Khattak and others were invited to the reception.
“We welcome the Ambassador of Pakistan Shahzad Ahmad and other officers of Pakistan embassy from all the tribes living here in Qatar. We consider the embassy as our home,” said Qayamuddin.
The host, Haji Gul Mohammed said he wanted to gather the community members and have a dinner together. “Sitting together and eating together further strengthens our mutual bond,” said Mohammed.
He said he also wanted all the Pakhtun community members to have a meeting with the ambassador of Pakistan. “I am grateful to the ambassador that he spared some time and accepted our invitation to come here and meet all our community leaders personally,” the host added.
The guests were served a lavish dinner comprising traditional Pakhtun dishes of lamb and mutton prepared and presented in the traditional way.
Earlier, a delegation of tribal leaders from Pakhtun community comprising Saleh Mohammad, the Ameer of JUI-F Welfare Wing in Qatar, Haji Shah Bahram, Hafiz Shah Draz, and Maulana Qayamuddin met the ambassador at his office where they extended him the invitation for the reception.
They also conveyed to the government of Pakistan through the ambassador their full support in case of any foreign aggression on Pakistani soil.
The Pakistani envoy accepted the invitation and appreciated their love towards their country. Ambassador Ahmad praised the services of Pakistani Pakhtun community in the development of Qatar.
He advised them to focus on their jobs and businesses. Members of the delegation also presented the ambassador a few suggestions for the improvement in consular services at the embassy. Ambassador Ahmad thanked them for their interest in the betterment of embassy’s work and said they will look into the suggestions.