ROME: Pakistan Embassy in Rome on Thursday held a cultural festival on its premises in co-operation with veteran journalist Azfar Bukhari to raise funds for Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand dams, ARY News reported.
The event, attended by by foreign diplomats, senior Italian government functionaries, renowned businessmen, journalists, Italian citizens and members of the Pakistani community in Italy saw people thronging stalls of Pakistani handicrafts, spices and food.
Members of Pakistani community also displayed traditional products, shawls, jewellery and truck art items inside the embassy while traditional Dhol beaters entertained the audience.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Nadeem Riyaz thanked the attendees and laid stress upon promoting love and harmony among people belonging to different cultures.
The ambassador threw light upon the imminent water crisis in Pakistan and the need for building water reservoirs to avert the looming water crisis.
Jouranlist Azfer Bukhari, during his speech, said that Pakistan must build more water reservoirs as several organisations have warned that Pakistan may run dry by the year 2025.
Bukhari, who is well regarded within the major quarters of EU, is on the visit of different European countries these days along with ARY News team to promote the PM-CJ fund for Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand dams.
Apart from journalism, Bukhari is famous for his strong socio-political ties not only in Pakistan but in other countries of the Middle East and Europe as well.
In the year 2011, Sindh Assembly had passed a unanimous resolution to honor his services rendered for the country.
About the dam fund
The Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand Dam Fund 2018 was established by the federal government in pursuance of a Supreme Court order for raising funds for the construction of the two dams.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar was the first to donate money for the fund as on July 5, he deposited Rs1Million as donation in the account titled “DIAMER BASHA AND MOHMAND DAM FUND–2018′.
The fund, which was merged with PM’s fund by PM Imran Khan on September 7, can receive donations and contributions from both domestic and international donors, individuals and companies, and the general public has been requested to contribute generously.
