UAE-based journalist awarded at Dubai’s largest Pakistan Independence Day event
Sheikh Nahyan honours achievers for contributions to bilateral relations
DUBAI: A veteran journalist was honoured during Pakistan’s 78th Independence Day celebrations at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City Dubai on Sunday, in what organisers described as the largest gathering of its kind anywhere in the world.
Ashfaq Ahmed from Gulf News, a leading newspaper in the UAE, has served nearly three decades in mainstream journalism across the country.
The Jashn-e-Azadi 2025 award was presented by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, in the presence of Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, Ambassador of Pakistan to the UAE, alongside officials, diplomats, economic representatives, and social leaders from the Pakistani community.
Pakistan Independence Day in Dubai
The day-long festivities drew more than 60,000 registered attendees, according to organisers – more than quadruple last year’s Dubai World Trade Centre event, which saw 15,000 participants.
Crowds from infants to octogenarians arrived in national and traditional attire, while performers from across Pakistan’s provinces and regions entertained with patriotic songs, folk dances, and contemporary music.
Food stalls serving popular Pakistani dishes saw long queues throughout the day.
High-profile guests included actors Humayun Saeed, singer Sahir Ali Bagga, Sufi rock artist Natasha Baig, and storyteller Yousuf Bashir Qureshi. Sheikh Nahyan addressed the gathering, praising the Pakistani community’s contribution to the UAE’s growth and emphasising the deep cultural and economic ties between the two nations, which date back to 1971.
Several other achievers were also recognised, including educationists, entrepreneurs, sports icons, and innovators. The honours list featured figures such as former cricket captain Sana Mir, Afridi & Angell law firm founders Bashir Ahmed and Masood Haider Afridi, and community healthcare leaders Abdul Salam and Shahida Salam.
Pakistan in UAE
The event was organised by “Emirates Loves Pakistan” in collaboration with the Pakistan Association Dubai and with support from Dubai Police. It was part of a wider programme highlighting Pakistani culture through music, cuisine, and art, while also reinforcing the enduring diplomatic and social bonds between the UAE and Pakistan.
PMC expansion announced
President of the Pakistan Association Dubai, Dr Faisel Ikram, also used the occasion to announce the expansion of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s first and only not-for-profit healthcare facility, the Pakistan Medical Centre (PMC). The Dh45 million project aims to triple the healthcare services currently offered.
Since its launch in October 2020, Phase 1 of PMC has provided medical support to over 140,000 patients from more than 100 nationalities, serving as a model of tolerance and community giving.
The new phase will include advanced diagnostics and radiology, a dialysis unit, enhanced physiotherapy, and an expansion of specialised services. Once completed, PMC will become one of the largest community healthcare centres for overseas Pakistanis worldwide – the only community-led, not-for-profit facility of its kind.
Dr Ikram emphasised the success of the initial phase, which was funded through the community-driven “Own a Brick” campaign, and expressed confidence the expansion will be completed within two years, thanks to continued community and corporate support.
He also acknowledged the critical backing of the Government of Dubai, the Community Development Authority, and Dar Al Ber Society, highlighting that the land for the facility was gifted in 1973 by the late HH Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum. This gesture has profoundly impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of people across the UAE.