PRESS RELEASE N0: JPNEMPAK 010-08

Islamabad: 10th February, 2010

The Embassy of Japan, in collaboration with the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), the Pakistan-Japan Cultural Association (PJCA), Islamabad and the MEXT Alumni Association of Pakistan (MAAP), organized the Japan Children Art Competition and Speech Contest on Wednesday 10th February, 2010 at the National Art Gallery in Islamabad.  The Competition, which proved popular among school children for the past 15 years, is part of the Japan-Pakistan Friendship Fest 2010. It promotes creativity among the young talented and budding artists and speakers, consisting of nearly 100 enthusiastic students from over 35 different schools of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Students of 13 and 14 years of age drew pictures in the Art Competition with themes of their own choice related to Japan and Pakistan. Ms. Mussarat Naheed Imam, Director Visual Arts, PNCA, and Ms. Fauzia Minallah, a renowned painter along with a representative of the Embassy of Japan made up the panel of judges for the art competition.

One student from each school of the same age competed in the Speech Contest with the topic of their choice related to Japan and Pakistan. The panel of judges for the speech contest comprised of Ms. Shabnam Riaz, PTV English Newscaster, Poet, Author & Columnist, Ms. Sofia Shahid, renowned TV anchor and a representative from the Embassy of Japan.

The purpose of organizing this competition is to provide an opportunity for the young and talented students to freely express themselves on the growing cordial relations between Japan and Pakistan and to contemplate on the friendly relationship Japan and Pakistan have been enjoying for more than five decades.
On the recommendations of the judges, the prize winners of the Japan Children’s Art Competition were as follows:
First Prize:     Wajiha Zafar, Army Public School, Rawalpindi
Second Prize: Fatima Mustafa, Bahria College, Islamabad
Third Prize:   Amna Ahmed, Beaconhouse School, Margalla Campus, Islamabad
Consolation Prize:   Rafia Ahmed Virk, Bahria College, Islamabad

The Names of the Prize Winners in Speech Contest were as follows:
First Prize:   Ramsha Fiaz, Bahria College, Islamabad
Second Prize: Mehak Sajjad, OPF Girls College, F 8/2, Islamabad
Third Prize:   Saif Jamshed, The City School, H-8 Campus, Islamabad
Consolation Prize:     Fatima Imam, Rawalpindi Grammar School, Rawalpindi

The names of the following students were specially mentioned by the judges for    their excellent speeches:
Shahryar Baber, Gandhara Public School, Islamabad,  Arooj Sajid, Jinnah Preparatory School, Rawalpindi and Rabya Adnan, Sir Syed Public School, Rawalpindi.

H.E. Mr. Chihiro Atsumi, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, Syed Ijlal Haider Zaidi, President PJCA, and Dr. Zabta Khan Shanwari, President MAAP, awarded prizes to the winners of the speech contest and of the art competition. All students were given certificates for participation. (End)