ABU DHABI // Pakistan is not doing enough to provide guidance, support and a social network for the 850,000 of its people living in the Emirates, the country's new ambassador to the UAE said.
Khurshid Ahmed Junejo, who took up his new post this month, said his countrymen here were divided by class, caste, wealth and profession and needed a new sense of unity. Language differences, with Pashto, Urdu and Punjabi dialects all spoken, also created divisions.
"There is segregation among Pakistanis here but we can solve these issues. We have to bring them together," he said. "In the UAE, if you live together, you will strengthen yourself."
Mr Junejo said community centres, which were closed in 1996, would provide the "single roof" under which a sense of unity could be revived.
Also on Mr Junejo's agenda are boosting investment ties between the UAE and Pakistan, improving the standard of education in community schools and raising living conditions for the thousands of Pakistani labourers here.
This is the ambassador's first time in Abu Dhabi, and he has several meetings set up to prepare him for his position. With finance officials, Mr Junejo hopes to push for more investment by the UAE in Pakistan's coal and electricity industry. He also hopes for better opportunities for Pakistani expatriates to invest in the UAE.
Regarding Pakistani community schools, Mr Junejo acknowledged that there were problems with admissions and staffing.
Mr Junejo's career spans more than two decades. He remains linked with President Asif Ali Zardari's Pakistan Peoples Party. He had worked as head of Benazir Bhutto's constituency and remains mayor of Larkana, a city in the Sindh province of Pakistan and the birthplace of the slain former prime minister.
The embassy has been promising the return of community centres for some time now and officials, including the ambassador, are hopeful that they will reopen this year. UAE authorities closed the centres in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dubai. Some expatriates say that disputes - too many leaders vying for power and illegal elections being conducted at the centres - angered authorities.
Abu Dhabi's centre in particular is expected to reopen soon after board members approve the plans. It will be in its previous location, on Muroor Road next to the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Arab Pakistani School.
Community leaders would run the centres independently.
"Once they are in place, we will chalk out programmes and they will run themselves," said Riaz Hussain Bukhari, deputy head of mission at the embassy.
Seminars, cultural and social activities, training and forums for men, women and children are some of the centres' intended uses.
Sheikh Zayed once called the Pakistani community the "heart" of the UAE, with its uncomplaining stance and affiliation with Islam.
Pakistanis welcomed the latest promise.
Dr Rumana Nabeel, who used to work in Karachi, said: "It's very difficult to make new friends here. We don't have any centres. There is no support network."
"It's a great thing that the community centres will reopen," said Ghazala Iqbal, 39, a homemaker. Her family moved to Abu Dhabi three years ago when her husband took a job in engineering. "People will get a chance to meet each other and make new friends. I would like to see some craft fairs going on there."
Other communities have excelled in maintaining a sense of unity in the UAE, where Pakistan has failed, said Saghier Jafri, 70, a retired engineer in Fujairah. "I find Indian and Bangladeshi centres are flourishing in the UAE," he said. "They have got more patience than Pakistanis. I think we are a little hot-tempered and we don't want to listen to other people's arguments."
There are attempts to pull the community together.
Imran Jamil, who works in Abu Dhabi, is general secretary of the Young Pakistani Expatriates Society, which tries to unite young Pakistanis to improve their job prospects in the UAE.
"When you are alone you can't do anything, your scope and your surrounding are limited," he said. "If you have a community or a gathering, you then have lots of links and you broaden your horizon. If we gather, we can also brighten the name of our country in the UAE."
The president of Pakistan Association Dubai, Mohammed Riaz Farooq, said he helped organise musical events, Eid al Fitr parties, charity evenings and Independence Day celebrations. "Pakistanis here all belong to different parts of the country," he said. They are of a different culture and are a different mix. We are very active in the cultural programmes and all kinds of people are coming to our events."
asafdar@thenational.ae
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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Sunday:
GP3 race: 12:10pm
Formula 2 race: 1:35pm
Formula 1 race: 5:10pm
Performance: Guns N' Roses
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Company Profile
Company name: NutriCal
Started: 2019
Founder: Soniya Ashar
Based: Dubai
Industry: Food Technology
Initial investment: Self-funded undisclosed amount
Future plan: Looking to raise fresh capital and expand in Saudi Arabia
Total Clients: Over 50
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
The Cockroach
(Vintage)
Ian McEwan
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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THE POPE'S ITINERARY
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
pakistan Test squad
Azhar Ali (capt), Shan Masood, Abid Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Abbas, Yasir Shah, Usman Shinwari
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
Dubai World Cup factbox
Most wins by a trainer: Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor(9)
Most wins by a jockey: Jerry Bailey(4)
Most wins by an owner: Godolphin(9)
Most wins by a horse: Godolphin’s Thunder Snow(2)
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Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
ZIMBABWE V UAE, ODI SERIES
All matches at the Harare Sports Club:
1st ODI, Wednesday - Zimbabwe won by 7 wickets
2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
4th ODI, Tuesday, April 16
UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Other simple ideas for sushi rice dishes
Cheat’s nigiri
This is easier to make than sushi rolls. With damp hands, form the cooled rice into small tablet shapes. Place slices of fresh, raw salmon, mackerel or trout (or smoked salmon) lightly touched with wasabi, then press, wasabi side-down, onto the rice. Serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger.
Easy omurice
This fusion dish combines Asian fried rice with a western omelette. To make, fry cooked and cooled sushi rice with chopped vegetables such as carrot and onion and lashings of sweet-tangy ketchup, then wrap in a soft egg omelette.
Deconstructed sushi salad platter
This makes a great, fuss-free sharing meal. Arrange sushi rice on a platter or board, then fill the space with all your favourite sushi ingredients (edamame beans, cooked prawns or tuna, tempura veggies, pickled ginger and chilli tofu), with a dressing or dipping sauce on the side.
Company%20profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Six things you need to know about UAE Women’s Special Olympics football team
Several girls started playing football at age four
They describe sport as their passion
The girls don’t dwell on their condition
They just say they may need to work a little harder than others
When not in training, they play football with their brothers and sisters
The girls want to inspire others to join the UAE Special Olympics teams
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20TV%204K%20(THIRD%20GENERATION)
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
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Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
Company%20Profile
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