Indians, Pakistanis exchange Diwali sweets in Dubai

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Indians, Pakistanis exchange Diwali sweets in Dubai

Dubai - The initiative was taken by the Pakistan Association of Dubai

By Saman Haziq

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Published: Thu 19 Oct 2017, 6:50 PM

Festivals are the best time to patch up, to forget differences and extend a hand of friendship. And Pakistan Association of Dubai (PAD) officials chose the occasion of Diwali as the best time to strengthen bonds with their Indian neighbours at India Club, which is literally a street away from the PAD office in Oud Metha.

A delegation of five officials from PAD, led by Dr Faisal Ikram, PAD president, visited the India Club with sweets and Pakistani sherbets to meet and greet them on Diwali. This was the first time that PAD officials ever visited the India Club.
The initiative was taken by the newly elected PAD cabinet that took oath earlier last week.

Commenting on the visit, India Club Dubai general manager Bharat Chachara said: " Although we have interacted with PAD members at different forum but this was the first time they came over to our premises and took a tour of our facilities. We took PAD officals on a tour of the club facilities and showed how we function here at the India Club.
Also read: 11 exciting Dubai events for the perfect Diwali celebration

India Club officials the ordered a lavish Diwali meal for PAD officials over which they exchanged ideas about the different activities they were doing and discussed how they could collaborate with each other to do something on a bigger scale together.

Dr Faisal Ikram said: "We want to give out a message of solidarity and tolerance through this visit so that people of our country continue to live in harmony and learn from each other, share their experinces and this is also the objective of the CDA. The association wishes Happy Diwali to all Hindu community members of both the countires."

On their part, the India Club then extended PAD officials an invitation to attend their special Diwali function at the club called Black&White, which will be about old songs from the 50s, 60s and 70s.
Also read: (Video) Emirates crew create Diwali rangoli, distribute sweets in Bur Dubai

"It was a really nice gesture by PAD officials to take the initiative and we are looking forward to collaborating with them on Eid too. Diwali is a time for peace and prosperity and it is just the perfect occasion to know each other better and collaborate. It was such a good experience to interact with PAD officials closely as all of them are such dynamic individuals and the initiatives they are taking such as building a Pak Medical Centre and Own a brick are amazing campaigns that offer us a good learning experience. Our challenges are similar and if we work together we can work wonders for the community," Bharat told Khaleej Times.
Also read: Planning to burst crackers this Diwali in UAE? Police have a warning for you
As a souvenir, India Club officials then gave PAD delegation a 250-pager coffee table book that chronicles the history of club from day one in 1963.

Rizwan Fancy, Head of Public Relations and Marketing at Pak Association Dubai (PAD) said: " We have now taken the initiative of opening our doors to all different clubs and associations for such interactions so that we all can work together and learn from each other. The India Club officials made us feel at home and welcomed us warmly and we were highly impressed by thethe club's facilities. We have also invited the Indian officials to visit our premises and give us an opportunity to serve them. We believe in maintaining good friendships with all especially with our Indian neighbours and we take this opportunity to wish all a very happy Diwali. Let us spread a message of love and peace on this auspicious occasion."


Lauding the initiative of PAD officials, Pakistani community member Sadaf Ather said: "With this initiative of extending a hand of friendship, PAD has truly proved to be a role model for all community members. Being a member of PAD, I feel proud of this move taken by our officials.
"The new PAD cabinet has taken a great initiative by visiting the Indian social club and this only proves their open heartedness and mission to serve communities hand in hand. True service is done without expectations and hearts are won by such actions."
saman@khaleejtimes.com


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