Goodbye to Pakistan after two decades of working in different organisations: Dr Karl

[LahoreEstate]

Friday, May 22, 2009
Ishrat Hyatt


Islamabad

Saying goodbye to Pakistan after two decades of working in different organisations, Dr Karl Fischer hosted a dinner at the Majlis Restaurant to which his close friends were invited — needless to say the conversation was mostly serious with a sprinkling of light-hearted anecdotes now and again!

Dr Fischer first came to Islamabad in 1988, as the last ambassador of the GDR to Pakistan and retained his standing with the new establishment after the unification of Germany in 1990, frequently visiting Islamabad, as a consultant to the Hanns Seidel Foundation, as their Regional Advisor for South Asia and Afghanistan, building on contacts developed in the earlier years, with a high-level of interaction with the local people made easy because of his good working knowledge of Urdu.

Thanking his guests for accepting his invitation, the host said that after more than 20 years association with Pakistan, he had decided to call it a day and return to Germany, the place of his permanent residence. “I cannot leave without thanking you for all the support and encouragement I received from you on so many occasions during this time” he said. “When I first came here I was interviewed at a party and through this column was introduced to an enlightened readership in the twin cities. (by yours truly!)”.

He then went on to list the various positions he held. In 2001 the United Nations employed him, as deputy head of the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan (UNSMA) with headquarters in Islamabad. He then moved to Kabul in April 2002 as Chief of Staff of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and as Senior Advisor on Donor Relations and Information Management. Since 2004 he has been shuttling between Islamabad, Kabul and Delhi on behalf of the Hanns Seidel Foundation on various assignments, mainly developing projects in the fields of management training, civic education, capacity building and cooperation with think tanks on topical issues of current international relations.

After speaking about his work Dr Fischer thanked his friends around the table. “In the course of these activities, my friends have been of great help to me and served, as role models,” he said. “You have advised me how to understand your country. I always benefited from the insight, experience and knowledge of Ross Massod and from the analytical work of Mushahid Hussain, as an editor and politician. Khan Ahmad Goraya represented the creed of efficient, competent and visionary bureaucrats, deeply dedicated to serving his country and people. Likewise, Alauddin Massod and Prof. Dushka Syed embody the emancipated intellectual of Pakistan, ready to fight and stand their place in a largely male dominated society. Nusrat never left out an opportunity to exchange views with me and I appreciate his skills and dedication, as an investigative journalist. Mark was my competent colleague at UNAMA and remains a good friend. Last not least Dr. Babak Khalatbari represents the young and competent generation of German Project Directors, with special interest in developing Pakistan-Afghanistan dialogue on various levels of political life.”

Dr Fischer went on to say that officially, he retired five years ago, but that does not mean he will remain idle. As a ‘friend of Pakistan’ he wants to write about the country’s problems; to talk to fellow citizens about the experience, he gathered in this country and his meetings with people from all walks of life, with a desire to convey his vision of future options for Pakistan and the whole region. “This endeavour will occasionally bring me back here. I know your country is passing through difficult times. Some of your joys, sorrows and fears have also affected my life, so I leave with one weeping eye and one laughing eye,” he concluded to a round of applause.

http://thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=178877