Sweden National Day observed

Islamabad : To celebrate the National Day of her country, the ambassador of Sweden, Ingrid Johansson hosted a reception at the Serena Hotel which was attended by a select crowd of Islamabad’s residents, including envoys of different countries; people from the arts and members of the business community. The guest of honour was Federal Minister for Capital Administration and Development, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry.

The Hall had been decorated appropriately for the occasion with balloons and the country’s flag, while Swedish companies which are represented in Pakistan showcased their diverse products and work in stalls which were set up on three sides – with a corner reserved for delicious fruit smoothies, a healthy alternative to fizzy drinks.

The stage had a backdrop emblazoned with a number of facts and figures about the benefits of living in Sweden, and an added attraction was an exhibition of paintings by Ubaid Syed - an artist based in Sweden - curated by Nomad Gallery.

After the national anthems of Sweden and Pakistan had been played, Ambassador Johansson - who is a very approachable person with a ‘people friendly’ manner - welcomed her guests; thanked the sponsors and announced the ‘surprise’ of the evening – a performance by a visiting ‘magician’ Charlie Caper, before accompanying the chief guest for a round of the stalls.

Charlie Caper, an illusionist par excellence, delighted the guests not only with his tricks but also his humorous remarks. He performed his very high tech act with ease and also incorporated blurbs about Sweden’s economy and other interesting facts about Sweden’s higher education system, gender equality and open society, into the show – a very innovative way to get people interested in going to Sweden!