Pakistan donates MVR 2.6 million to build community center in M. Atoll

Pakistan has donated over MVR 2.6 million for the construction of a community center in M. Atoll.

The foundation stone for the community center – named the Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah Memorial Pakistan - Maldives Community Center in honor of the founder of Pakistan - was laid by Pakistan High Commissioner Vice Admiral (Retired) Ather Mukhtar and M. Atoll Council’s President Mohamed Nimal in a ceremony held in M. Muli on Monday.

The ceremony was also attended by Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner Zulqurnain Ahmad, Mulah MP Ibrahim Naseer, and Dhiggaru MP Ikram Hassan.

At the ceremony, High Commissioner Mukhtar presented a cheque of MVR 2,621,400 – which will be utilized for the construction of the community center - to M. Atoll Council’s President Nimal.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mukhtar said the community center was a gift from the people of Pakistan to the people of Maldives.

“We share much things in common. Our relations are based on common faith, historic links, mutual trust and respect. Today, the foundation stone has made another monument of friendship between people of Pakistan and Maldives,” he said.

Mukhtar noted that Pakistan had been working with the Maldivian government in a wide range of areas, including education, health, sports, human resource, social sectors and capacity building.

He provided assurance of Pakistan’s continued assistance to Maldives.

Nimal, in his speech, thanked Pakistan for the generous gift and highlighted on the need for the community center.

According to Nimal, the community center will serve as a premises of temporary stay for those who seek medical treatment in Muli, as a place to hold community gatherings, and will be utilized for human resource and capacity building, and other community activities.

He said that the community center wasn’t just for the people of Muli, but for the people of the entire M. Atoll.

Zulqurnain Ahmad, too, said that the community center would benefit the people of the entire atoll, and expressed confidence the center will be completed in a timely manner under the management of the M. Atoll Council.

MP Naseer and MP Ikram, in their speeches, thanked Pakistan for the generous assistance.