All that glittered were hearts of gold
By Dure Najaf Zaidi

The who’s who of Islamabad gathered in the stunning Shamadan hall of Serena Hotel to celebrate the Spring Charity Gala hosted by the Australian High Commission and Serena Hotels. The beneficiaries of the event were the Jamila Sultana Foundation and the Fayyaz Sumbal Foundation, two wonderful charities based in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

With diplomats, industrialists, entrepreneurs and consultants they event glittered with entertaining conversation and a sparkling performance.

The evening began with a sumptuous feast. The starter was a delicious roasted yellow pumpkin soup with shallots and chunky prawns followed by the entree which was New Zealand Angus beef tenderloin rolled in crushed black pepper. A breathtaking dessert of cristal sugar crusted cookied filled with a symphony of strawberries topped with silver leaves followed.

Brigadier Major Muhammad Javed representing the Jamila Sultana Foundation said, “Currently the organisation is taking care of the health needs of 573 children suffering from thalesemia. On average a single patient needs two transfusions a month. Your support will allow us to expand the services we provide and we are grateful to Serena Hotel and the Australian High Commission for their generosity.”

The Envoys – a very talented group of ambassadors – played old favourites by Eric Clapton, Simon and Garfunkle, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and so on. The 1960s and 1970s songs were familiar to all the listeners and beat encouraged many to get to their feet.

The band comprises of the Ambassadors of Bosnia, Denmark, Japan and Australia. Unfortunately, however, the Ambassador of Japan was travelling and was replaced by the talented Gumby from Karachi.

The Australian High Commissioner, Peter Heyward said, “The aim of the evening is to have fun but also to support two great charities. We are very grateful to PCB for lending us the trophy Pakistan won in 1992.” The 1992 cricket World Cup trophy was displayed prominently next to the stage.

Dean and Ambassador of Argentina Rodolfo J. Martin-Saravia said, “I’m very happy to have been invited to this Musical - Dinner not only because of the excellent organization of the event by Serena Hotel but also because we have the opportunity to enjoy the brilliant performance of 3 ambassadors.”

He added, “They played fantastically well for two long hours for a very enthusiastic audience. Myself as well as many of my colleagues were happy to hear them till late. In addition to this I have to praise the Australian High Commission and the Serena Hotels for organizing this event to help 2 important charity institutions in Pakistan. I hope many more Embassies follow this example.”

Mr. Aziz Boolani, CEO of Serena Hotels, said, “Serena Hotels is always looking for opportunities to engage with the community in positive ways. We planned the Spring Charity Gala with a specific goal in mind. We wanted to get a group of people together to support a good cause and provide them with quality entertainment. What better cause than providing better healthcare facilities for our communities and what better group of people than those gathered here tonight? Together we have raised 2.5 million Rupees from your generous donations. Serena Hotels will continue working for the betterment of our communities; we have many upcoming charity fundraisers scheduled in the next few months.”

Mr. Walid Mushtaq, the CEO of Roots International Schools, said, “This has been a great event for a great cause. Saving humanity from the ills and diseases that surround us is a laudable contribution at any time and this collaboration between Serena and the Australian High Commission will encourage other Pakistanis to play their part.”

He added, “The Envoys is a unique creation and all the ambassadors who are part of it are immensely creative and dynamic. They add to the vibrancy and cultural life of Islamabad. This cultural diplomacy allows us to experience their musical talent. Great performance!”

Jamila Sultana Foundation is an nonprofit organization which deals with Thalassaemic children by providing them with blood transfusions and chelating for iron overload. Jamila Sultana Foundation was founded in 2004. In December 2005, a blood bank was added to this facility.

The Foundation is a welfare health division of Global Pharmaceutical, Islamabad which focuses on providing best available treatment to ensure normal quality life to Thalassaemics. It is emerging as one of the organizations all around the world making great contribution in combating Thalassaemia. The center has registered more than 500 patients and has the capacity of transfusing 10 to 15 patients simultaneously every day under the supervision of dedicated doctors.

Set up in 2014, the Fayyaz Sumbal Foundation aims to honour Fayyaz’s work by continuing to work for peace and security, as well as fostering goodwill and cooperation between Australia and Pakistan. Deputy Inspector General Fayyaz Sumbal was tragically killed in a suicide bombing on August 8, 2013. The bomber had originally targeted the Balochistan Police inspector general, however Fayyaz quickly identified the danger and bravely put himself in harm’s way. The bomber triggered his device, killing Fayyaz and 38 members of the Frontier Corps and Balochistan Police.

Fayyaz had ongoing links with Australia and enjoyed a strong relationship with the Australian Federal Police. In 2012 Fayyaz was part of a Pakistani delegation that visited Sydney for a bomb data conference and represented himself, the Balochistan Police and Pakistan with the utmost professionalism and warmth. Funds raised by the foundation are spent on aiding the families of servicemen killed in the line of duty.

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

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