Event Report (World Plaza - Pakistan Edition)

World Plaza - Pakistan Edition

On Sunday, February 15th, Sagamihara International Lounge held its international exchange event, "World Plaza," at the Hashimoto Community Center. This time, we welcomed the Usmani Kamran, Usmani Saera, and Usmani Ansha family, who are originally from Pakistan and live in Sagamihara City, as presenters to introduce the fascinating aspects of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, a country with a long history dating back to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization and a unique culture woven from its multi-ethnic and multilingual society.

In their presentation, the Usmani family began by describing the Pakistani national character, noting that the majority are Muslim, and religious practices such as prayer and Ramadan are deeply ingrained in their lives. They possess a warm temperament supported by deep faith and tradition, and a generous spirit of "Mehman Nawazi" (hospitality to guests), welcoming visitors like family. They explained that family ties are extremely strong, with grandparents and grandchildren supporting each other, respecting elders, and having a strong sense of solidarity to help each other in difficult situations. As an example, they mentioned that at family weddings, they invite more than 1000 people, including relatives, friends, and acquaintances, and the ceremony can sometimes last for a week.

Furthermore, we introduced Pakistan as the center of the Indus Valley Civilization, which flourished around 2600 BC. We highlighted that Mohenjo-daro and Harappa boasted sophisticated urban planning and drainage systems, creating one of the most advanced civilizations in the ancient world. We also mentioned that the northern part of Pakistan is blessed with magnificent mountain scenery, including K2, the world's second highest peak, as well as the Karakoram, Himalayas, and Hindu Kush mountain ranges, attracting travelers from all over the world.

Next, regarding the often misunderstood position of women in Islamic countries, I explained that in Pakistan, women have been actively participating in society from an early stage. In 2014, human rights activist Malala Yousafzai received the Nobel Peace Prize, and women's seats have been allocated in parliament and local councils. The number of women active in administrative, judicial, and diplomatic fields is increasing. Economically, particularly in urban areas, women are making progress in professional fields such as doctors, lawyers, university professors, entrepreneurs, and IT engineers.

Sagamihara International Lounge hosts this international exchange event, "World Plaza," every other month. In April, we plan to hold an event focusing on the Republic of Peru, a South American country with which Japan has close ties. We look forward to your participation.