Managing Director of NLC Pearl, Brigadier Rashid Butt (centre), chief guest, cutting a cake with Malik Sarfraz Khan (fourth left), Sardar Ashiq Hussain (third right) and other guests to mark the Pakistan National Day at a function organised by Safeeran-e-Watan at Shezan Hotel on Friday. (Abdul Basit)
DOHA: Hundreds of Pakistani expatriates attending their country’s National Day celebrations yesterday greeted with applause a statement by the ambassador offering to renew their expired passports free of charge, due to a delay in issuing machine-readable passports back home.
Pakistanis who have applied for new machine-readable passports will get their old passports renewed for two years as an alternative arrangement, said Ambassador Muhammad Safraz A Khanzada, addressing the Pakistani community at a function held to mark their country’s National Day at the embassy premises. The service will be available free of charge, he added.
He said that the embassy had extended its working hours on Thursdays. It will be open from 5pm to 9pm on Thursdays for consular services. The mission has also installed an ATM machine for the convenience of the visitors.
A flag hoisting ceremony was held to celebrate the National Day at embassy premises. Ambassador Khanzada hoisted the national flag in the presence of a large gathering of Pakistanis. Students from Pakistani schools in Doha rendered the Pakistani national anthem.
Pak Shama School, Pakistan Education Centre and Bright Future Pakistani School held separate flag hoisting ceremonies in their premises.
Pakistan Education Centre held its annual festival on Thursday and Friday. The traditional event featured a variety of activities including decorating hands with henna, traditional dishes like ‘haleem,’ and ‘Kashmiri tea’.
Bright Future Pakistani School marked the day paying tributes to the country’s founder Quaid–e- Azam Muhammad Al Jinna. Patriotic songs, traditional dances and speeches by students marked the celebrations.
The Peninsula
