KARACHI: Mr. Emil Wyss, who was the Consul General of Switzerland in Karachi from 2014-16, is back in Pakistan.
“Just before leaving Karachi after my diplomatic assignment ended, my wife and I committed to revisit this beautiful country every year around the 14th of August. I’m very happy that I could come this year to celebrate the Pakistani Independence Day with friends and to meet with some local charities, and NGOs to further promote their cause to serve the less privileged” said Mr. Wyss who arrived in Karachi on August 07.
During this visit the Swiss national, who excitedly boasts that his heart is half-Pakistani, has so far paid visits to Karachi Vocational Training Centre for intellectually challenged children, Bint-e-Fatima Old Home Trust for aged / single women, Al-Umeed Rehabilitation Association (AURA) for cerebral palsy children, Deaf Reach School for aurally impaired, Alamgir Welfare Trust where he inaugurated the Trust’s state-of-the art computer institute for the less privileged students in Korangi area.
Mr. Wyss also visited Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre where he paid homage to the founder, Late Sister Ruth Pfau. He attended an impressive investiture ceremony and Independence Day celebrations organized by Saifiyah Girls School run by the Bohra community in the old Karachi City precinct. He also granted wishes of terminally ill kids during his visit to Make-a-Wish Foundation Pakistan.
Despite heavy rains over past week-end, the former Swiss diplomat, went out and about on his mission to visit Friends of Burns Centre at the Civil Hospital (now Dr. Ruth K.M. Pfau Hospital), Brenton Carey Hostel for orphan and single-parents girls students, the Edhi Foundation, IBTIDA Drug Rehabilitation Centre, and Dar-ul-Sukun home for the abandoned children with special abilities.
Dressed in a half-starched traditional Pakistani shalwar kameez, with waistcoat, and sandals, Mr. Wyss made sure to attend the official flag hoisting ceremony at the Mazar-e-Quaid on the morning of August 14. Following which, he visited Afzaal Memorial Thalassemia Foundation where he donated blood for thalassemia major children, later at the Markaz-e-Umeed to participate in the Independence Day celebrations and enjoyed BBQ dinner with the elderly at Vcare Social Welfare Society in the metropolis’ North Nazimabad area.
During his twelve days private visit, this time without his better half, Emil is visiting Karachi and Hyderabad till August 18 during which he will continue to various Institutions. News Desk