Staff Reporter
KARACHI: Consul General of Malaysia Muhammad Younus bin Ibrahim has said that bringing nations closer does not always require discussions on history, trade or diplomacy; sometimes, simply sitting together around a table and sharing a meal can become a beautiful expression of friendship, as food needs no translation.
He said Pakistan and Malaysia may be geographically apart, but their people shared many common values, including strong family traditions, hospitality and a deep love for food.
He was speaking at a special event titled “Taste of Malaysia”, held at the Karachi Marriott Hotel in collaboration with the Consulate General of Malaysia.
The Malaysian Consul General said Malaysian cuisine reflected the country’s rich cultural diversity. The combination of Malay, Chinese, Indian and indigenous influences had given Malaysian cuisine its distinctive identity.
He said Pakistan, too, had a rich culinary heritage, with dishes such as biryani, nihari, kebabs and a wide variety of regional foods reflecting the country’s culture, family traditions and renowned hospitality.
“The purpose of Taste of Malaysia is not to decide which cuisine is better, Pakistani or Malaysian, but to discover what we have in common and to appreciate each other’s unique flavours and cultures,” he said.
He expressed the hope that such cultural events would play an important role in further strengthening people-to-people ties between Pakistan and Malaysia.
The event was attended by Honorary Consul General of Côte d’Ivoire Fazal Karim Dadabhoy, Sheikh Imtiaz Hussain, Captain Asif Sheikh Javed, Athar Hussain, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Chef Banish, Chef Farah, Greenland Travel’s Qayoom Kati, former KATI president Junaid Naqi, Consul General of Thailand Surashet Boontinand and Ahsan Mehnati, among other distinguished guests.
Officials and staff of the Malaysian Consulate also attended the event, while Karachi Marriott Hotel General Manager Raza Abbas was also present.
Guests enjoyed a variety of traditional Malaysian dishes during the event. The Consul General thanked Sheikh Imtiaz Hussain, the sponsors and the Karachi Marriott Hotel for their support in making the event possible.
He concluded his remarks with the words: “Malaysia, Pakistan Dosti Zindabad.”
