LAHORE: The Pakistan-China Friendship Association (PCFA), Lahore, was formally established at the first meeting of its founding members, held here on Thursday.
The founding members unanimously adopted the by-laws of the Association and approved its objectives. They also unanimously elected its executive committee. The founding members of the Association include: Former DG of Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA)Kamran Lashari, Prof Dr Khalid Manzoor Butt, Dean at UCP, Secretary Food Security Dr Kiran Khurshid, Former Vice Chancellor, GC University, Lahore Dr Hassan Shah, Group Director Punjab Colleges Khadija Amer, Sufi Group of Industries Director Hamza Sufi IMC Hospital Director Asad Gondal, Rizwan Sherwani, Former DG, Excise and Taxation Department, Dr Asim Farooqi, former MS, Punjab Dental College & Hospital, Naveed Saeed, Former COO, Warid, Sarmad Nadeem, Member, Committee of Management, Gymkhana Club, Dr. Farzana Riaz GC University, Lahore
Tabita Victor, Kinnaird College for Women, Dr Khushbu Khalid, Garrison University, Lahore.Chines National members are Mr Wu Minghua, Director Public Relations, OPPO Pakistan, Ms Chen Meifen,Ms Ho Yuk Bing Barbara, Vice Principal, Chinese International Academy, Lahore, Mr Formen Wang, Country Head, CRRC Ziyang, Mr Luo Jianxue, President, Lahore Overseas Chinese Association.
The Founding Members unanimously approved the objectives, which include celebrating important national and cultural occasions of both Pakistan and China, promoting academic, socio-cultural, economic and
recreational relations between the two countries, strengthening people-to-people relations between Pakistan and China.
Besides, it also aims to organise seminars, conferences, exhibitions, cultural festivals, language programmes and exchange visits, to facilitate collaboration among educational institutions, think tanks, businesses and civil society organisations and establishing an Alumni Chapter for Pakistanis who have received education from Chinese educational institutions.
The Founding Members unanimously elected Executive Committee with its members, including Dr Khalid Manzoor Butt (President),Ms Khadija Amer and Dr Kiran Khurshid (Vice Presidents), Asad Gondal (Secretary General), Hamza Tariq Sufi (Joint Secretary), Rizwan Sherwani, Naveed Saeed and Dr Farzana Riaz as members.
After his election as President, Dr Butt thanked the Founding Members for reposing their trust in him. He stated that the Association would soon launch a membership drive to invite Pakistani and Chinese residents of Lahore to become honorary members and participate in the activities of the Association.
He emphasised that the PCFA would maintain close liaison with the Consulate General of China in Lahore for coordination and promoting greater people-to-people contact between Pakistan and China.
He said that the Association would play its role in bridging linguistic and cultural gaps and creating greater opportunities for interaction between the people of the two countries.He also announced that an Alumni Chapter would be initiated for Pakistanis who have studied at Chinese educational institutions.