EU ambassador plays trumpet for Pakistan Independence

ISLAMABAD: European Union Ambassador to Pakistan Riina Kionka paid tribute to the nation by performing a rendition of the national anthem, as Pakistan’s 76th Independence Day nears.

In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the EU delegation to Pakistan posted a video of the rendition, captioning it as “a celebration of the rich cultural diversity of Pakistan.”

On Pakistan's 76th Independence Day, the EU Ambassador @RKionka joins 🇵🇰 friends to pay a special tribute to Pakistan. This rendition is a celebration of the rich cultural diversity of Pakistan and the power of #UnityinDiversity.
Happy Independence Day, Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/00YzSu743d

— EUPakistan (@EUPakistan) August 11, 2023

The ambassador can be seen playing the trumpet, in a performance showcasing musicians from all over the country and representing all provinces.

The other performers included Amna Nizami from Islamabad playing the electric guitar, Sameer Ahmed from Sindh on the bass, and Salman Adil from Punjab playing the flute.

Sulaeyman Khan from Balochistan played the nylon guitar, Sarmad Ghafoor from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the electronic keyboard and soundboard, and Doulat Wali Baig from Gilgit-Baltistan added a touch of traditionalism with the sitar.

This is not the first time Kionka has played the trump for this purpose. To commemorate last year’s Independence Day, she similarly played the anthem in what seems to have become an annual custom.

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This rather unique way to mark the upcoming August 14, was shared through a special campaign on the social media channels of the European Union delegation to Pakistan in Islamabad, said a news release issued by the EU Commission.

It added that the EU is committed to “a stable, democratic, and pluralistic country that respects human rights and benefits from its full economic potential by supporting sustainable and inclusive development for all its citizens.”

The collaboration between the EU and Pakistan is grounded in the strategic engagement plan signed in 2019.

 

Hum News