‘I feel glad to be appointed in Karachi’: Malaysian Consul General

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Aisha Masood
When Aniza Khalid, wife of Mohammad Khalid Abul Razak, Consul General of Malaysia, found out she would be moving to Karachi, she eagerly looked up the city on the internet.

What she found did not impress her. Until, that is, she arrived in Karachi.

It has been just six months since Mohammed Khalid Abdul Razak Consul General of Malaysia, moved to the city with his wife and four children, but they all feel as though they have been here for much longer. Aniza Khalid loves the shopping malls, as do her children. The eldest, Amir Shauqi, 11, cannot tear himself away from the books and toys within.

“It has become a compulsion for our family to visit either Park Towers or Forum every weekend,” says Aniza.

She is happy that the children have adjusted well.

“I have Pakistani and Malaysian friends at school,” Aisyah Sara, eight, says eagerly. “They are polite and friendly.”

Azra Safiya, six, is too shy to give her views, and Arisa Sofea, adorable eight-month-old baby, is in no position to do so, although she is very vocal.

“Karachi has been beyond my expectations,” declared Aniza, who nonetheless feels terrible when she sees the poor on the streets. “One should not forget the underprivileged,” she warns. “I never wanted a life of luxury, but I have been granted one.”

Life for the families of consul generals normally is a luxurious one – in this case, the luxury sometimes extends to friends and colleagues. Consul General Mohammad Khalid Abul Razak enjoys gathering friends and colleagues at his place for Karaoke sessions, hosting a party for them at his residence almost every weekend. He does not wait for official events to see them. Malaysian friends and delegates visiting Razak’s house can always have their local cuisine, as Aniza Khalid is a food technologist and an excellent cook – something that Razak attributes his good health to. Apart from their traditional Malaysian food, the family enjoys Pakistani cuisine, and eat out at Boat Basin frequently. Biryani tops their list of favourite Pakistani food.

There are some 400 Malaysians living in Pakistan and 150 in Karachi. Many of these are students studying at different religious seminaries. Pakistanis wishing to visit Malaysia will need to apply in advance, as the Malaysian government stopped issuing visas on arrival on August 1 to discourage illegal immigrants, which number close to two billion now.

This year, the Malaysian Consulate will celebrate the 51st anniversary of the Independence Day of Malaysia, and the “51st year of friendship between Malaysia and Pakistan.”

Razak, however, feels there is a lack of coordination between the federal and provincial governments. If, for example, there is an agreement signed between the Malaysian government and the Pakistani federal government, the provincial government is often unaware of it.

“Pakistan has great potential and an abundance of resources, but there is a need to spend money in the right direction. Joint ventures held between the two countries at a national level should be well coordinated on a provincial level too.”

Despite the existence of the Pakistan Malaysia Friendship Association, Razak strongly feels that there is more that needs to be done.

“We should have joint events involving the youth from both countries.”

In a serious tone, he said that despite 51 years of friendly relations, the city does not have a Malaysian commercial office.

“The Consulate is working to establish one,” he said.

Razak explained that various reputable Malaysian companies have been investing in the city. In fact, the Malaysian company IJM is engaged in the construction of the IT Tower, one of the biggest projects launched by the city government.

The Consul General went on to explain other ongoing Malaysian projects in Karachi. A Malaysian firm, for example, is looking to build 500 low-cost houses in Sindh as part of the ‘Roti Kapra Makaan’ project, using not bricks but foam and waste products.

In addition, Karachi’s first Malaysian restaurant will open in the Defence Housing Authority in October. The restaurant will be located near the sea, and will serve pure Malaysian cuisine prepared by expert chefs from Malaysia. Razak has many ideas on how to develop tourism in Pakistan, but is waiting for the right time to share his ideas.

“The locals here do not promote tourism,” he said.

It is true that the family enjoyed the weather and clean environment of Islamabad, but Razzak does like his new city.

“Karachi is the hub for business opportunities. I feel glad to be appointed here,” he says.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=134527