By Muslim Mirror News,
In an historical event, the twentieth anniversary of Daily Urdu News was celebrated with zest and zeal by over 200 multi-national Jeddah VIPs and dignitaries on the eve of Tuesday 13th May 2014 at the Lasani Spinzer Banquet Hall.
Organized by Pakistani Business Community (PBC), the event’s Chief Guest was H.E Aftab Khokher, Consul General, Pakistani Consulate Jeddah, and the Guest of Honour was Tariq Mishkhas, Editor-In-Chief, Daily Urdu News, Jeddah.
Founded in 1996, the Pakistani Business Community (PBC), is a pioneering organization serving Pakistani businessmen and corporate executives under the leadership of its able Chairman Masood Puri and President Abubakar Memon.
Ashfaq Badayuni, Master of Ceremony, welcomed the guests and conducted the entire event with his usual grace and eloquence. Qari Engr. Muhammad Asif rendered “Surah Rehman” and his Qirat inspired everyone.
Formally initiating the proceedings, Chairman Masood Puri, advised the guests about the activities of PBC and offered well-deserved appreciation to the staff of Urdu News on their hard work since two decades. On behalf of millions of Urdu lovers living in Saudi Arabia, he expressed: “Our daily lives are incomplete without Urdu News”.
Rohail Khan, Chairman, Urdu Academy International (UAI), congratulated the entire team of Urdu News for their par excellence performance. He advised: “Urdu is the 4th largest language in the world, spoken by 600 million people across the globe. Urdu, after Arabic, is the second largest source of literature on Islam”. As such, “Serving Urdu is serving Islam”.
Rohail Khan informed the guests that his organization Urdu Academy International (UAI) is keen to promote new talent among the new generation. Young writers interested to write Urdu novels should contact UAI to publish their books.
A resident of Saudi Arabia since 25 years, Rohail advised that Urdu News is certainly a “top ten daily of the region”. He reiterated the need to re-launch the weekly “Urdu News magazine”, which was suspended three years ago.
Rohail Khan, formally gave Memento to Tariq Mishkhas in appreciation of his valuable services to promote Urdu in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. While presenting the memento, the guests proudly uttered: “Urdu News Zindabad”.
Renowned intellectuals Athar Abbasi, President Aalmi Urdu Markaz Jeddah, and Zamarrud Saifi recited poems in honour of Urdu News.
Tayyeb Moosani, General Secretary, Memon Welfare Society, appreciated Urdu News’s historical role to serve the expatriates. His suggestion to set-up “online version” of Urdu News was widely appreciated.
Tariq Mishkhas, Editor-In-Chief, surprised everyone by addressing in Urdu. Speaking in Urdu with a light accent, he thanked his team and the expatriate community for their continued support to Urdu News.
Tariq Mishkhas assured of his un-daunting support to lead the newspaper to new heights. His golden words “Urdu News Aapka Apna Akhbar Hai” received loud applause.
H.E Consul General Aftab Khokher lauded the management of Urdu News for being the only local Urdu daily for the 2.3 million Pakistani diaspora in the Kingdom.
He congratulated Tariq Mishkhas on the 20th anniversary and added: “Being the National language, Urdu is a source of unification for the nation. It is our collective duty to promote Urdu across the world”.
Among standing ovation, a Memento was presented to Tariq Mishkhas jointly by the Chairman and President of Pakistan Business Community duly blessed by H.E. Aftab Khokher and the 200+guests.
A large 20 kg cake was jubilantly cut by Tarik Mishkhas and valued guests to commemorate the 20th anniversary.
Mr. Abubakar Memon, President PBC, offered vote of thanks and invited the guests for Mughlai Dinner and Kashmiri Tea.
Notable Guests included: Hani Hazaimeh, Managing Editor, Arab News, Abdul Wahab Soomro, Consul (Commercial), Sohail Khan, Vice Consul (Press), Dr Ali Al-Ghamdi, Former Diplomat, Absar Syed, Editor, Urdu News, Hamid Al-Ofi, Managing Director, Safir Al-Ofi Group, Waleed Al-Shehri, Saudi Radio, Hassan Koya, Editor, Malyalam News, Dr. Khalil Rehman, Dr. Mansour Memon, Fazal Memon, Mansoor Nazeer, Athar Abbasi, Hamid Islam, Tayyeb Moosani, Mansur Shivani, Asim Zia, Engr. Aziz Ahmed, Engr. Khalid Javed, Aseem Hanif, Mubassir Azam, Mujeeb Hasan, Jamil Rathore, Amir Muhammad Khan.
The event’s Director of Photography was Emad Iqbal. Mohammad Ali (Lasani Spinzer) managed the catering services.
What message r they sending to the people by Cutting the cake for celebration?