An overview of Nepal- Pakistan
Friendship and Cultural Association

- Manju Ratna Sakya
General Secretary
NPFCA

The friendly relations between Nepal and Islamic Republic of Pakistan have been cordial ever since the establishment of Diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1960. The exchange of visits by the senior leaders from both the countries have been enhanced more closer and better understanding of goodwill towards each other.

To support in the strengthening cordial ties of the two countries through the people to people level, Nepal-Pakistan Friendship and Cultural Association (NPFCA) was established and registered with the concerned department of the Government of Nepal in 1961 (9th Magha 2018, Monday)

This Friendship Association is one of the pioneers among the same kind of other Associations to be established in Nepal. This Association was established with the aim of strengthening the friendship and promotion of cultural exchanges between the people's level from the both countries, was initiated under the Chief Patron of General Samrajya Shumsher J.B. Rana

Crucial Period
During the 1971 India-Pakistan war, the senior diplomatic officer after the Ambassador along with his colleagues from the then Pakistani Embassy in Kathmandu surrendered at the Embassy of Bangladesh. Likewise, some of the Executive members of the NPFCA and had also left the Association.

During that crucial period General Samrajya Shumsher J.B. Rana took over the post of Presidentship of Nepal-Pakistan Friendship and Cultural Association and had functioned various activities that had, contributed in strengthening the knot of cordial ties of two countries tidely.

To support General Rana at that acute duration Mr. Ram Lal Shrestha joined hands and served as Vice President while Mr. Manju Ratna Sakya (this scribe) gave his precious time to volunteer for the General Secretary post. Likewise, Mr. Shiva Hari Thapa looked after the treasury section.

The other supporting pillar of the Executive Committee was Mr. Babu Raja Sakya, Mr. Mewa Kaji Kanskar, Mr. Keshab Prashad Acharya, Mr. Y.P. Lohani, Mr. Hari Bahadur Thapa, Mr. Shankar Man Dangol, Mr. Surya Lal Pidit, Mr. Shekh Abdul Salam and Mr. R.N. Gangol.

But, after the sudden death of General Samrajya Shumsher J.B. Rana on 31st August 1994, Mr. Mewa Kaji Kansakar, with the approval of the Central Executive Committee took over the Presidentship and served as acting President of the Association.

Due to the ill health and also on the special request of the acting President Mr. Kansakar himself, the committee holds the election on 27th Mangsir 2052 B.S. (12 Dec. 1996) in which Mr. Himalaya Shumsher J.B. Rana was elected to the post of its President.

The neck-to-neck election also gave the responsibility of Vice President to Mr. Mewa Kaji Kansakar while Mr. Manju Ratna Sakya, due to excellent performance shown by him in the previous committee, was re-able to grab one of the prestigious posts of the General Secretary once again.

Mr. Shankar Man Dangol was entrusted to look after the financial activities by electing him to the post of Treasurer. Likewise, Mr. Babu Raja Sakya was elected to the Secretary post.

Current Committee
Since then, this Association is on the different activities under the leadership of Mr. Himalaya Shumsher Rana, who is the President till today. Likewise Mr. Manju Ratna Sakya, Mr. Shankar Man Dangol and Mr. Babu Raja Sakya are the General Secretary, Treasurer and Secretary respectively are serving in this Association.

The Other Central Executive members of this Association are :
Mr. Masood Ul-Hasan (Senior General Manager of Himalayan Bank Ltd.), Prof. Dr. Om Krishna Malla, Dr. Anjana Karki, Dr. Pravin Bahadur Pradhan, Mr. Prakash Maskey, Mr. Nirmal Kumar Aryal, Mr. Mohan Bir Thapa, Mr. Sudarshan Panta, Mrs. Radha Shrama and Mr. Rabindra Man Prajapati.

The NPFCA has also a Advisory committee of Former Nepalese Ambassadors to Pakistan. They are : Mr. Niranjan Bhattarai, Gen. (Retd.) Arjun Narsingh Rana, Mr. Pushkar Man Singh Rajbhandari and
Mr. Mukunda Prasad Dhungel.

It might be worthy to mention here that myself, Mr. Shankar Man Dangol and Mr. Babu Raja Sakya are the members who have been still active in this Association since 1968 till the date .

Activities :
Since its establishment, the Association had organized thousands of remarkable programs but all those are could not be enlisted here in this short space. Thus, only few noteworthy activities that had been well performed, so far, by the Association could be highlighted as follows.

- The Centenary anniversary of Muhammad Ali Jinnah was celebrated on 25th of December 1976.

- The reception function was organized to make the official visit to the Kingdom of Nepal by His Excellency late General Muhammad Zia -Ul Haq, the then President of Pakistan and Madam First lady on 26th May 1983 at Hotel Yak and Yeti, Kathmandu.

- Likewise, a reception was held in Kathmandu to mark the official visit of Her Excellency the then Prime Minister Ms. Benazir Bhutto of the Republic of Pakistan on 25th May 1994.

- To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Pakistan's Independence Day. Embassy of Pakistan in Nepal and Nepal-Pakistan Friendship and Cultural Association jointly organized a musical evening nite on 14th August 1997 at Birendra International Convention Centre. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Dipendra Bir Bikaram Shah Dev had graced the colorful function performed by Nepal's Veteran gazal singer Mr. Ananda Karki.

- The NPFCA had also organized a program on 17th September 1998 to launch Urdu translation of Nepali book entitled "Dhoomdham Ko Ghoomgham " in which the then speaker of the House of Representative Mr. Ram Chandra Poudel was the Chief guest.

- NPFCA had also organized a reception program to welcome Her Excellency Ms. Fauzia Nasreen, Ambassador of Pakistan to the Kingdom of Nepal on 12th September at Hotel Malla.

- NPFCA and the Embassy of Pakistan in Nepal jointly organized a day long seminar on "Poverty Alleviation through community mobilization in Nepal " in Kathmandu on 3rd October 1999.

- NPFCA and Embassy of Pakistan in Nepal had jointly organized a function to celebrate the Independence Day of Pakistan on 14th August 2000 at Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza in Kathmandu.

- Reception on Independence Day of Pakistan: To celebrate the Independence Day of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, NPFCA hosted a grand Reception with famous singer Ananda Karki's gazals and Nepalese songs musical programs at Hotel Malla on 14th August 2007. At the function, Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat, Minister of State for Labour and Transport Management Ramesh Lekhak, Deputy Speaker of the Legislature Parliament Mrs. Chitra Lakha Yadav, Leaders of the various political parties, Ambassador of Pakistan H.E. Mr. Sohail Amin, officials from the Embassy of the Pakistan, members of the Diplomatic corps and Military Attache of the Chinese Embassy attended the Reception. Likewise, senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Business persons, Industrialists, Former Nepalese Ambassadors to Pakistan, Senior Journalists, Advocates, Professors as well as other large number of people from various walks of life also attended the reception.

- The Ambassador of Pakistan H.E. Syed Abrar Hussain hosted a Dinner in honour of the Executive Committee members of the NPFCA at Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza on Wednesday, 18th June 2008. Likewise to welcome and to honour the new Ambassador of Pakistan H.E. Syed Abrar Hussain, NPFCA hosted a Reception with lunch on 14th July 2008 at The Malla Hotel.

- On the occasion of the 62nd Independence Day of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Nepal-Pakistan Friendship & Cultural Association organised a grand Reception with talk programme on 14th August 2008 at the Malla Hotel. At the programme, H.E. The Ambassador of Pakistan Syed Abrar Hussain has kindly delivered the speech. NCP (ML) General Secretary and member of the C.A. Hon'ble Mr. C.P. Mainali was the Chief Guest. The meeting wask presided by Association President Mr. Himalaya S. Rana. At the programme, myself as a General Secretary of Association had the opportunity to deliver the details on the various activities of the Association. After the talk programme, the musical performances was conducted by famous Nepalese singers Mrs. Kunti Moktan and Mr. Ram Krishna Dhakal which was followed with Gazals by famous singer Hemanta Rana and his bands.

- The Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Pakistan
Mr. Masud Khan Raja hosted a Dinner in honour of the Executive Members of the NPFCA on 9th Sept. 2008 at his residence. Similarly, the various receptions and other kinds of programs were also organized by NPFCA during the visit of the high ranking officials from Pakistan to Nepal.

- On the occasion of the Grand success of Pakistan Musical Evening, Mr. Himalaya Shumsher Rana, President of Nepal-Pakistan Friendship and Cultural Association hosted a reception in honour of Pakistan Popular Singer Mr. Shafqat Amanat Ali and his group at Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza, Megha Malhar Hall on 25th April 2009, Saturday.

- At the Reception General Secretary of the Friendship Association Manju Ratna Sakya express happiness on the grand success of the Pakistan Musical Evening and Congratulated to the Pakistan, popular Musical Singer Mr. Ali.

- His Excellency the Ambassador of Pakistan Syed Abrar Hussain, First Secretary of the Embassy of Pakistan Mr. Azhar Nazir, senior journalists, Nepali singers as well as other distuinguished persons were present.

- The Musical Evening with Pakistani Popular Singer Shafqat Amanat Ali was performed at Nepal Army Officers Club Auditorium Badrakali on Friday 24th April 2009.


- NPFCA has organized 63rd Anniversary of Independence Day of Pakistan a grand reception with musical evening on 14th August 2009 at The Malla Hotel. At the programe Hon’ble former minister and the leader of Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) Mr. Krishna Bahadur Mahara was the chief guest, chairman of Nepal Council of World Affaires Mr. Tika Jung Thapa was the special guest. At the program HE Mr. Masud Khan Raja, charge d’ affaires of Embassy of Pakistan had delivered the speech in Nepali language which was appreciated by all.

Contributions
- NPFCA had contributed relief materials (Blankets etc.) towards the relief efforts being made by the Government of Pakistan for the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck Pakistan on 8th October 2005.

- NPFCA had contributed a cash tokan of Rs. 10,000 for the “Prime Minister’s Special Fund for Victims of Terrorism” in Malakand Division (Swat, Dir etc.) in Northwest Pakistan on 24th May 2009.

Achievment
The Government of Pakistan had conferred a Medal Sitara-i-Pakistan to the President of the Association Mr. Himalaya Shumsher J.B. Rana in 1998.

Hope
Nepal-Pakistan Friendship and Cultural Association wishes continue peace, glory and prosperity for the people of Pakistan. The Nepalese people have been closely watching with deep interest and sense of high appreciation to the attaining of marvelous achievement of vast developments made by the people of Pakistan.

The ties of intimate friendship, cooperation and good understanding among the people level of both the countries have been subsisting so happily and smoothly. Lets hope the growing spirit of cooperation will pave the way for a new era of peace and prosperity between Nepal and Pakistan.

Since the establishment of this Association in 1961, the friendly delegation of Nepal-Pakistan Friendship and Cultural Association never get the opportunity to visit Pakistan till now. Though during the official visit to Nepal by the Late President Gen. Md. Zia-Ul-Haq, who had formally invited the Executive Members and their spouses of the NPFCA to visit Pakistan on 26th May 1983. This invitation was made by President Gen. Md. Zia-Ul-Haq, during the Grand Reception organized in honour of the Late President Gen. Md. Zia¬UI-Haq and Madam by this Association at Hotel Yak and Yeti.

Publication
Myself is in this Association since four decades. As NPFCM do not have its own newsletter, The ARPAN Weekly is serving as its own publication. The ARPAN Weekly Newspaper is publishing under my Editorship every Friday from Kathmandu regularly.

Establishment of NPFCA Office
To strengthen the friendly and cordial relations between our two countries, NPFCA has set-up its Central office in Maitighar Kathmandu. In the office, we have a small library with equipped computer sets and fax machine also. Likewise, NPFCA is planning to open new brances of this Association in different prominent places of Nepal too.

The NPFCA is planning to organise a Free Medical Camp at the remote areas of Nepal in every six months with the help and cooperation from the Nepalese Doctors who got the Doctors' Degree from Pakistan.

To know more information and study on friendly relations between Nepal and Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Please Contact :
The General Secretary
Nepal-Pakistan Friendship and Cultural Association (Central Office),
Post Box No. 285, Maitighar, Kathmandu, Nepal,
Phone : 4262426, Mobile : 9851024388, Fax : 4279544
Email : manju_sakya@hotmail.com

Long live Nepal-Pakistan Friendship relations.

* Mr. Sakya is the President of Nepal Journalists Association and Chief Editor of Arpan Weekly also .