KARACHI: A grand dinner-reception was hosted by the US Consulate General to celebrate the US National Day and to bid farewell to the outgoing Consul General, Her Excellency Grace Shelton, on Thursday evening.
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The consular corps and a large cross section of the city’s elite, including politicians, industrialists, businessmen, lawyers, bureaucrats, media seniors and professionals had responded to the invitation, making the event a very impressive evening.
The Chief Guest, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shahlauded the 70year-old Pakistan-US ties and said a visible sign of that were the large Pakistani alumni of US universities.
He also mentioned the ultra-modern hospital in Jacobabad built with the kind help &assistance of the US government. Apart from this, he mentioned the 106 schools built across Sindh with the assistance of the US Agency for International development (USAID).
The chief minister spoke about the private sector ties between the two countries whereby private firms in the US were exploring possibilities in Karachi to cooperate with their Pakistani counterparts.
Earlier, outgoing Consul General H.E. Grace Shelton referred to the 5,000 Pakistani alumni of US universities. She also mentioned US assistance in the field of healthcare and in this context particularly mentioned US help in vaccinating half a million children against communicable diseases.
“I found my tenure in Pakistan most eventful,” Shelton said. “The hospitality of the people of Sindh was unmatched,” she added. She spoke high of the people of Pakistan. During the ceremony, the national anthems of both Pakistan and USA were sung by female vocalists along with the guests.
Talking to Holiday weekly an official of the US Consulate General informed that the July 4 is the US national day, here it is being celebrated ahead of schedule this year, as July is always a very hot and humid month in Pakistan and was really not too pleasant for celebration of events particularly with large gathering in open air.
A dinner was served with variety and hospitality in highly manicured and futuristically laid dinning arrangements at immaculately arranged event by Pearl continental hotel Karachi. The guests were visibly impressed with the variety of the hospitality spread. The event culminated on a happy note all round with good wishes expressed.
