Showcasing the best of Pakistan

Islamabad: The very active envoy of her country and also the brand ambassador for the NGO ‘Paper Miracles,’ the ambassador of Austria, Brigitta Baha, hosted a reception at her residence to launch a book titled, ‘Titled Colours of Pakistan: Through the Eyes of Diplomats,’ which as the title suggests, includes pictures of cultural events, flora and fauna, landscapes and the people of this country. The event was attended by a number of diplomats and their spouses, other supporters of the NGO and a delegation from the Alhamra Arts Council, Lahore, headed by the Executive Director Capt. (r) Atta Muhammad Khan.

The book is a collaborative effort by goodwill ambassador, Alhamra Arts Council, Imran Shaukat and Ellie Takagaki, Founder of Paper Miracles - the kind-hearted Japanese lady whose presence was sorely missed - and supported by the Lahore Arts Council under a combined initiative attempting to showcase the amazing beauty and cultural diversity of Pakistan and its people.

MC for the event was Adnan Aurangzeb, who began by acknowledging the presence of the envoys and representatives of different countries and organisations, while specially mentioning the wife of the ambassador of Hungary and goodwill ambassador for Paper Miracles, Emilia Szabo, then thanking the hostess for organizing the event.

In her brief address, Ambassador Baha welcomed her guests, said a few words about Paper Miracles – that it is a social enterprise that gives marginalized women a new meaning to their lives by using waste paper to make beads for jewellery and other handicrafts – then adding that one of the initiatives of the NGO was to ask diplomats to present the jewellery they make in fashion shows. “We were delighted to support the idea and enjoyed working for this good cause,” she said. “Another initiative is this book that we are presenting tonight.”

Stating that the primary purpose of the book is to present a positive image of Pakistan, while the secondary purpose was to support Paper Miracles, Imran Shaukat said they had decided to present Pakistan through the eyes of the friends of Pakistan. “The book was launched in Thailand at the Museum of Sociology and Anthropology and many students expressed their surprise on seeing the images because they did not know what Pakistan was really like,” he said. “We are also planning to showcase a documentary on the Buddhist heritage of Pakistan and two more books are on the cards – ‘Pakistan through the millennia – civilizations, cultures and religions’ and ‘Terrains and Faces of Pakistan.” He concluded by thanking the hostess and everyone else involved in the project for their support.

The gathering was also addressed by Capt (r) Ata Mohammed and Tauqir Nasir of Alhamra, who assured of their full support.

Paper Miracles is a unique initiative launched by the Rotary Club of Islamabad Renaissance (RCIR) and is the brainchild of Ellie Takagaki, following the devastating 2005 earthquake in Pakistan. It has created sustainable income-generation and skill-development opportunities for paraplegic female earthquake survivors abandoned by their families. The NGO utilizes labour, resources and skills in a way that not only provides women with financial benefits but also imbues in them a sense of security and self-worth. They are taught how to recycle paper to create astonishing jewellery pieces that add quiet sophistication to any outfit, easily transforming a casual look into something more glamorous!