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ISLAMABAD: There could be hardly a place better than the Pakistani capital to live in for a foreign diplomat who loves mountains and hails form a place in Italy, where in his words, Alpine begins.
Virtually, sitting in his office on Margalla Road facing the Margalla Hills, the foothills of great Himalayas, Italian new ambassador Vincenzo Prati feels a historic relationship with Northern Areas of Pakistan and its peaks, including K-2, the second highest peak in the world, which was first time scaled by Desio, an Italian in 1955.
Himalayas: Pratis office is studded with classic pictures of Himalayas. He loves these pictures, which were taken by an Italian photographer Vittorio Sella in 1909. The ambassador is planning the 100th anniversary of the pictures next year. His admiration for the mountainous north is evident from his photograph next to one of the pictures for the interview.
Islamabad is the beginning of the big mountains, he said. Replying to a question, Prati said he had not taken walks on Margalla tracks or hiked it, as he was busy visiting different cities.
Prati said he had already been to Karachi and Multan and loved both cites, though for different reasons. Karachi attracts for being economic hub of Pakistan where big economic activities are going on and Multan is city of saints, he said.
He also narrated an incident during visit to a shrine in Multan. He dropped a coin in a big water tank and prayed for his daughter expecting a child. (Devotees believe wishes are granted if a coin is put in water).
Bilateral ties: Prati said bilateral relations between Pakistan and Italy were excellent and the two countries had similar views on a number of issues including reforms in the UN. He said in addition to cooperation in economic, commerce and political fields the two countries were working closely in archeology and education.
He said Prof Tucci, an expert in Sansikrat, visited Northern Areas before creation of Pakistan. He said Italy was also helping Pakistan in setting up a modern university in Karachi. He also offered help in forging closer ties between Pakistan and European Union.
Law and order: Prati hoped that security and law and order situation in Pakistan would be tackled. He said the best way to end violence was to promote development, education, employment and health facilities. Talking about extremism faced by the Muslim world, he said modern Europe had its share of troubles in the form of wars but finally people came to a consensus that they needed development and not violence.
Change is not easy and it does not come free of charge. Problems are part of change but one should be creative to find mutually beneficial solutions, said Prati who was born on February 19, 1948 in Chiari, Italy and graduated from the University of Perugia in Political Science in 1970. He joined diplomatic service in 1975 and served in Beijing, Washington DC, Algiers, Bonn and Kuwait.
He arrived Pakistan recently as ambassador and enjoying while trying to understand the country and its people.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
Virtually, sitting in his office on Margalla Road facing the Margalla Hills, the foothills of great Himalayas, Italian new ambassador Vincenzo Prati feels a historic relationship with Northern Areas of Pakistan and its peaks, including K-2, the second highest peak in the world, which was first time scaled by Desio, an Italian in 1955.
Himalayas: Pratis office is studded with classic pictures of Himalayas. He loves these pictures, which were taken by an Italian photographer Vittorio Sella in 1909. The ambassador is planning the 100th anniversary of the pictures next year. His admiration for the mountainous north is evident from his photograph next to one of the pictures for the interview.
Islamabad is the beginning of the big mountains, he said. Replying to a question, Prati said he had not taken walks on Margalla tracks or hiked it, as he was busy visiting different cities.
Prati said he had already been to Karachi and Multan and loved both cites, though for different reasons. Karachi attracts for being economic hub of Pakistan where big economic activities are going on and Multan is city of saints, he said.
He also narrated an incident during visit to a shrine in Multan. He dropped a coin in a big water tank and prayed for his daughter expecting a child. (Devotees believe wishes are granted if a coin is put in water).
Bilateral ties: Prati said bilateral relations between Pakistan and Italy were excellent and the two countries had similar views on a number of issues including reforms in the UN. He said in addition to cooperation in economic, commerce and political fields the two countries were working closely in archeology and education.
He said Prof Tucci, an expert in Sansikrat, visited Northern Areas before creation of Pakistan. He said Italy was also helping Pakistan in setting up a modern university in Karachi. He also offered help in forging closer ties between Pakistan and European Union.
Law and order: Prati hoped that security and law and order situation in Pakistan would be tackled. He said the best way to end violence was to promote development, education, employment and health facilities. Talking about extremism faced by the Muslim world, he said modern Europe had its share of troubles in the form of wars but finally people came to a consensus that they needed development and not violence.
Change is not easy and it does not come free of charge. Problems are part of change but one should be creative to find mutually beneficial solutions, said Prati who was born on February 19, 1948 in Chiari, Italy and graduated from the University of Perugia in Political Science in 1970. He joined diplomatic service in 1975 and served in Beijing, Washington DC, Algiers, Bonn and Kuwait.
He arrived Pakistan recently as ambassador and enjoying while trying to understand the country and its people.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan