PRAGUE, Czech Republic: The Pakistan Embassy in Prague held a series of public diplomacy events recently to promote Pakistan’s soft image and highlight its modern and vibrant culture.
A Book Launch Ceremony was held at the Pakistan House on May 29 in which Ambassador Muhammad Khalid Jamali hosted notable Pakistani and Czech Artists including Professor Jafri of Lahore’s National Council of Arts (NCA), members of the Czech Cultural Centre and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and notable Czech artists to highlight the coffee table book on powerful Pakistani and Czech women throughout history.
Later on June 10, a performance by the Baloch renowned artist Ustad Noor Buksh was organized.
For the first time, Ustad Noor Buksh brought Baloch music to the captivated audiences of the Czech Republic in the Capital of Prague.
It was the first stop in his Europe tour.
The packed house included students, professionals, music lovers, and cultural enthusiasts from all strata of society
Also, Pakistan Embassy in Prague participated for the first time in the “Festival of Embassies” on June 11 organized annually by the Mayor of Prague 6.
The Pakistan stall served scrumptious Pakistani dishes, sold indigenous products e.g. basmati rice and Himalayan pink salt and also had a henna artist.
The event was also featured by the USC Centre on Public Diplomacy.
Public Diplomacy is still an emerging science in the diplomatic spheres because things have drastically changed since the end of the Cold War era and Jan Melissen in an anthology titled “The New Public Diplomacy—-Soft Power in International Relations” righting says that diplomats are trying to demonstrate acts that influence “public opinion” in their host countries for gaining the respect of other countries as well as public opinion overseas. The writer believes that there is still a risk that diplomats follow political strategies in the spheres of power politics and use such style for their public diplomacy.
Pakistan’s Ambassador in Prague Muhammad Khalid Jamali is a proactive diplomat who does not miss any opportunity to showcase the soft image of Pakistan in the Czech Republic, officially known now as Czechia. Having an excellent background of serving Pakistan in different posts in the past, Ambassador Khalid Jamali is available to Pakistani living in Czechia whenever they need him and his constant contact with students living in Czechia is an action that must be appreciated. He has been promoting Pakistan through different cultural activities as a country of interfaith harmony, and tolerance, rich in natural beauty, and loaded with educated versatile strata of society.
