Journalists can play important role for country: Ambassador Tirmizi

DUBAI: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Faisal Niaz Tirmizi has said that the Pakistani journalist community living in the UAE can play an important role in increasing the country’s foreign exchange and promoting tourism.

He expressed these views at the swearing-in ceremony of the Pakistan Journalist Forum after administering oath to the newly-elected office-bearers at the Pakistan Consulate in Dubai.

The Pakistan Journalist Forum, a wing of the Pakistan Association Dubai, recently elected its new office bearers, who include Tahir Munir Tahir (president), Sadia Abbasi (senior vice president), Sibte Arif, Muzaffar Rizvi and Zamurad Buneri (vice presidents), Hafiz Zahid Ali (general secretary), Arshad Chaudhry (joint secretary), Arshad Anjum (finance secretary), Ijaz Gondal (information secretary) and the executive body of Sohail Khawar, Ahmed Qureshi and Khalid Gondal.

Those who attended the impressive ceremony included Pakistan Business Council Dubai President Iqbal Dawood, Mustafa Hemani and Shabbir Merchant. Pakistan Association Dubai was represented by Khalid Imtiaz, Abu Bakar Imtiaz and Maryam Mumtaz, while Pakistan Social Center Sharjah President Khalid Hussain Chaudhry, General Secretary Iftikhar Chaudhry and a large number of media representatives were also present on the occasion.

Ambassador Tirmizi congratulated the new PJF office-bearers, especially President Tahir Munir Tahir.

He hoped that the Pakistani journalists active in the UAE will not only highlight public issues but will also support diplomatic authorities to solve these issues.

PJF President Tahir Munir Tahir said that the Pakistani journalists have always highlighted public issues in the UAE and vowed to also help in finding their solutions.

Maryam Mumtaz, the Director Marketing and Communication of Pakistan Association Dubai, hoped that the new PJF officials will work together to create awareness among the Pakistani community members and also provide services for the promotion of education.

Pakistan Social Center Sharjah President Chaudhry Khalid Hussain also congratulated the new office-bearers and expressed his good wishes to them. He said that the Pakistani journalists were doing a great job in projecting a positive image of the country.

Pakistan Business Council Dubai President Iqbal Dawood, while expressing good wishes to the Pakistan Journalist Forum, said that the PJF in the United Arab Emirates is an example of unity, which is a beacon for the whole community and journalists in Pakistan.

Mustafa Hemani, considered an effective voice of the Pakistani business community in the United Arab Emirates, said that Pakistani journalists are doing charity work with their pen.

Dubai’s well-known businessman Shabbir Merchant said that the Pakistan business community will always be forthcoming in support of the journalists, who are doing a great service.

Dubai’s famous Kashmiri businessman Sajid Abbasi said that the journalists in Dubai should also play an active role in solving the current serious issues faced by Pakistan.

The Pakistan Journalist Forum is managed by the Pakistan Association Dubai and consists of media-men active in the UAE.