As AzerTAc earlier informed, the Daily Times, a leading English-language Pakistani newspaper, has announced First lady of Azerbaijan, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO Mehriban Aliyeva a “Symbol of Humanity 2012” for her contributions to humanitarian actions in all provinces of Pakistan, as well as in educational and health spheres.
The award ceremony took place Jan. 22 at hotel Serena in Islamabad. The ceremony was attended by Acting Chairman of the National Assembly of Pakistan Faisal Karim Kundi, Deputy Chairman of the Senate Sabir Beludj, Chairman of the Humanitarian Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, minister Rubina Saadat Kaimkhani, Chairman of the Information and Broadcasting Committee of the Senate Haji Gulam Ali, Chairman of the Committee on Defence and the Defense industry Mushahid Hussain, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Haji Adil, Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee Maskhedi Sayed, Chairman of the Home Affairs Committee Muhammad Talha Mahmood, Senator Seyfulla Osman Khan, the Executive of Islamabad Tariq Pirzada, former interior minister of Pakistan Senator Wasim Khan, a deputy of the National Assembly Humayun Seyfulla Khan, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of Islamabad Zafar Bahteveri, other officials, prominent intellectuals, presidents of prestigious universities, journalists, ambassadors of several countries.
Chairperson of the Organization of women – volunteers Samina Shakh provided detailed information about the humanitarian projects, which were conducted in Pakistan upon the initiative and support of the First lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva.
In 2007 Mehriban Aliyeva had taken an initiative to construct a new modern school for girls in Muzaffarabad, a city destroyed by the earthquake. In 2012 it was completely reconstructed, renovated and refurnished.
In 2012, the First lady of Azerbaijan initiated a series of actions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Punjab and Sindh which consist of healthcare, education and humanitarian projects.
Within the plan of action, the hepatitis B vaccination and open-heart surgeries were carried out in collaboration with Kulsum International Hospital at Edhi Home, Akbar Care Institute for Cerebral Palsy in Peshewar and Women’s and Children Hospital in Lakki Marwat.
Mehriban Aliyeva donated one fully equipped ambulance and thousands of blood collection bags to Hamza Foundation, which deals with safe blood transfusion to the beneficiaries on both sides of Durand Line on purely voluntary basis.
During the holy month of Ramazan, the foundation hosted iftar dinners to more than 12,00 beneficiaries of Pakistan Sweet Home (Pakistan Baitulmal) orphanages in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi, Larkana, Nawabshah, Quetta, Zhob and Peshawar.
Samina Shah said that with all this the Daily Times newspaper and the Organization of Women Volunteers announced Mehriban Aliyeva a "Symbol of Humanity and Person of 2012."
The participants watched a video featuring the noble activities of the President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva, charitable activities undertaken by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in foreign countries, including Pakistan.
The Acting Chairman of the National Assembly of Pakistan Faisal Karim Kundi called the activity of the Azerbaijan’s First lady Mehriban Aliyeva in Pakistan as a good indicator of the friendly relations between the two countries. He emphasized that the invaluable contribution of Mehriban Aliyeva in solving women’s and children’s problems coincides with the ideas of the great daughter of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto.
Kundi said Pakistani-Azerbaijani relations cover all areas of life. He said that humanitarian projects promoted by the First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva in all the provinces of Pakistan have further strengthened the friendly and fraternal relations between the two nations.
Faisal Karim Kundi then handed to the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Pakistan Dashgin Shikarov the prize for the First lady.
Ambassador Dashgin Shikarov thanked the staff of the Daily Times newspaper and the Organization of Women Volunteers for the highest award. The ceremony was followed by concert program.
The award ceremony was widely covered by the leading news resources of Pakistan, including the newspapers Pakistan Observer, The News, Daily Times and magazines The Nation, DNA News, Centreline, as well as local television channels - PTV, DRY News , Vakt TV and CNBC.

AzerTAc