Today’s Enlightening
Entertainment
will be presented
in Urdu and English,
with subtitles in Arabic,
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Hungarian, Indonesian,
Japanese, Korean,
Malay, Persian,
Portuguese, Russian,
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Blessed be the sacred land
Happy be
the bounteous realm
Symbol of high resolve
Land of Pakistan!
Blessed be thou,
citadel of faith
Welcome to
Enlightening Entertainment
on Supreme Master
Television.
You have just heard
an excerpt of Pakistan’s
National Anthem
titled, “Qaumī Tarāna.”
The song conveys
the pride and love
Pakistanis have
for their homeland.
Today on our show,
we are honored to explore
this beautiful country,
her people and
ancient heritage
with His Excellency
Mr. Syed Ibne Abbas,
Consul General of Pakistan,
in the Los Angeles,
California, USA.
Consul General Abbas
holds master degrees
in both political science
and international relations.
He served as
Director General
in the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs,
Islamabad, Pakistan
from 2004 to 2006.
He has held
diplomatic positions
for Pakistan since 1983
and has worked in Berne,
Geneva, Canberra,
and New Delhi.
His Excellency was
a Pakistan delegate
for the 1997 and 2006
UN General Assembly
sessions and Conference
on Disarmament.
In Urdu, Pakistan means
“pure land,” symbolizing
spiritual purity.
With the Arabian Sea
to the south, Pakistan
is located in South Asia,
neighboring Iran and
Afghanistan to the west,
and India and China
to the east.
Pakistan straddle across
three very critical regions
of the world.
We ourselves are located
in the South Asia,
then we are also
in Southwest Asia
and also on the tip
of Central Asia.
The Silk Road, it connects
China with Pakistan
and now we call it
Curriculum Highway.
So this is about 800 miles
plus, the road which
connects Pakistan
and China, and
about 25,000 Chinese
and 15,000 Pakistanis
work for about 20 years
to construct this road.
The famous Silk Road
of antiquity
provided opportunities
for cultural exchange
and trade between
Ancient China,
Ancient India, Persia and
Mediterranean countries,
further developing
these great civilizations.
It was of great importance
and relevance
for almost 3,000 years.
The Islamic Republic of
Pakistan is a nation with
a long and rich history.
As early as 7000 BCE,
the ancient Mehrgarh
society inhabited
the region of the current
Balochistan province
in western Pakistan.
Archeological sites of the
ancient Indus Valley and
Gandhara civilizations
have demonstrated that
millennia ago,
agricultural communities
flourished.
Contemporary with
ancient Egyptians
and Mesopotamians, the
Indus Valley civilization
is characterized
by writing,
well-organized cities,
advanced sanitation
systems, and
waterways connecting
major urban centers.
Famous archeological
sites include Harappa,
Mohenjo-daro,
and Ganeriwala.
Jewelry, statues,
and pottery excavated
from these locations
were found to
have been created with
sophisticated
craftsmanship.
If I take you
back in history, we are
the successors of
the ancient civilizations
like Gandhara, Buddhist,
and Sikh religion and
some of the very famous
Buddhist relics are
also found in Pakistan.
(Yes) So we can claim to be
one of oldest civilizations.
Since 2000 BCE,
the valley of Indus was
home to successive
Vedic (Hindu), Buddhist,
and Muslim empires
for almost 4000 years.
Numerous ancient cities
and historical monuments
have been discovered
attesting to
significant advancements
during each of these eras,
including Taxila,
the Vedic city of learning,
the Takht-i-Bhai
Buddhist monastery,
and Mughal era
architectural marvels
in historical cities
such as Lahore.
The Indus River Plain
is also the birth place
of Sikhism, a religion
that teaches
constant remembrance
of God, honest living,
and sharing with those
in need.
Up to 97% of the
population in Pakistan
is Muslim, with a mixture
of ethnic groups.
The indigenous
community of
the Hunza Valley is
known for the longevity
of its residents.
People here routinely
lead a vibrant life to
an age of beyond 90 years.
Their diet consists of
fresh and natural
mostly plant-based food.
In addition, their simple,
happy and peaceful
existence is a key factor
for their long, healthy life.
We have a population
of about 170 million and
there are several cultural,
religious entities which
make Pakistan today.
Predominately,
the population is Muslim,
but we have other
religious groups as well
like Christians,
like Hindus, Sikhs.
What is the language
that is spoken in Pakistan?
Our national language
is Urdu.
We also have English
as an official language.
All the other provinces
have their own
provincial languages
as well.
But the national language
spoken and understood
all over the country
is Urdu.
As the national language
of Pakistan, Urdu
was used for a large body
of Islamic writings,
including the original
translation of the Qur’an.
Famous Urdu poets
include Mir Taqi Mir,
Khwaja Mir Dard,
Mirza Ghalib,
Mir Babar Ali Anis,
Mirza Salaamat Ali Dabeer,
Allama Sir
Muhammad Iqbal,
Sheikh Muhammad
Ibrahim Zauq,
and Faiz Ahmed Faiz,
among many others.
In addition,
for many centuries,
the poems of Saint Kabir
and Persian mystic
Jalāl ad-Dīn ar-Rūmī
have been a lasting source
of inspiration
to Urdu poetry.
Enlightening Entertainment
will continue
with our program
on the glorious country
of Pakistan
after these brief messages.
Please keep your dial
tuned to Supreme Master
Television.
The order of this sacred land
Is the might
of the brotherhood
of the people
May the nation,
the country, and the state
Shine in glory everlasting!
Blessed be the goal
of our ambition
This flag
of the crescent and star
Leads the way to
progress and perfection
Interpreter of our past,
glory of our present
Knowledge of the future!
Almighty's protection
be upon us forever
Thank you
for joining us again
for today’s Enlightening
Entertainment, featuring
the beautiful country
of Pakistan
through the introduction
of His Excellency
Mr. Syed Ibne Abbas,
Consul General of Pakistan.
With its distinct location
at the crossroads between
South Asia, Central Asia,
and the Middle East,
Pakistan has absorbed
the best of her
neighboring influences
and formed
a own unique heritage
that can be enjoyed
through diverse art forms.
We have a whole range
of music in Pakistan
from folk to pop.
Folk music flows
out of our Sufi traditions.
Sufi, the mystical tradition
of Islam. (Yes)
So this is wherefrom
our folk music flows.
It grows out of the mystical,
religious Sufism
and basically
it will be called Qawwali.
They are using sitar,
harmonium, tabla.
These are the kinds of
instruments we have.
The traditional folk music
and colorful dances of
Pakistan also vary from
one province to the next.
The country’s
folk singers
have won acclaim for
their melodious voices,
which touch the hearts
of all listeners.
In the past,
we had some folk singers
like Pathane Khan,
like Alam Lohar,
these are on the folk side.
Living, we still have people
who sing ghazal
Like Mehdi Hassan
and some lady singers
as well.
There have been different
icons and different eras.
In addition to
the country’s rich culture,
Pakistan is blessed
with a natural beauty
that is unsurpassed.
Pakistan’s landscape
is characterized by the
expansive fluvial plain
of the Indus
to the east and south,
surrounded by rugged
mountains and highlands
to the north and west.
As a major part of
the “Roof of the World,”
the northern terrain
is adorned with the
Himalayas, Karakoram,
and Hindu Kush
mountain ranges,
where five peaks
over 8,000 meters,
including the world’s
second highest, K-2,
reside.
The Indus River is
the major and longest
river in Pakistan,
running approximately
3,000 kilometers
from north to south.
We are a big country and
we have mountains,
we have deserts,
we have plains,
we have everything.
But if you ask me,
I would advise you
to go to northern areas
of Pakistan because
there is a pristine beauty
that’s unspoiled beauty
and this is something
worth seeing.
We have about more than
82 peaks which are
over 7,000 meters high.
K2 is the second highest
in the world.
So these are the Himalayas,
the Pamirs,
the mountains ranges
which I would strongly
recommend anybody
interested in
this mountaineering,
in spending some time out
in the natural habitat.
The varied landscape
hosts a diverse ecosystem.
The alpine and sub-alpine
woods in the north
consist of conifers
such as spruce, pine,
and deodar cedar.
Southern mountain
ranges are home to
mulberry-type shishams.
Mangrove forests
are found
on the coastal wetlands.
The Ziarat Valley
in the western hills
of Balochistan has one
of the world’s biggest
and oldest juniper forests,
which has been
in existence
for more than 5,000 years.
The national animal
the Markhor,
the Marco Polo sheep,
the Urial sheep and
the Indus River Dolphin
are among the array
of animals in Pakistan,
all listed as
endangered species.
To protect these
precious animals,
hunting has been banned
and several
wildlife sanctuaries
have been established.
The government
takes great care
in protecting
the natural heritage
of Pakistan as well?
That’s correct.
We are trying to protect
our natural heritage.
We have some parks
and they are from the
Mughal era, particularly.
And also, there are
some natural lakes.
There are some parks
up in the northern area
of Pakistan.
For instance,
Shalimar Gardens
in Lahore.
They are
from the Mughal era.
And similarly we have
Badshahi Mosque
in Lahore
that’s again very ancient
again from Mughal era
and architecture
of the Islamic history.
Then we have various domes,
various mosques which
reflect those periods when
those were constructed.
Yes, we are
maintaining those;
the government is
taking care of those parks
and those monuments.
Some have been even
declared, as you know,
national heritage
by the United Nations
UNESCO. (Right)
Pakistan has many
major historically
important cities.
Some of them are well
over a thousand years old.
If you’re talking about
the oldest civilization,
Taxila and Moenjodaro
is one.
Taxila is an especially
important holy site
in the country
as a center of learning
for both Hindus
and Buddhists
in ancient times.
This region was declared
a World Heritage Site
by the United Nations
Educational, Scientific,
and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) in 1980.
It is also referenced
historically in books by
visiting Chinese monks
Faxian and Xuanzang.
Coming back to
those historical sites
I can say Taxila which is
from where
the Gandhara civilization
started, we have been
maintaining it very well.
Similarly, Moenjodaro
from where
this civilization started
so these are the two sites
which I can say that
we have done a great job.
These are about, over
4,000 years old sites
and we are maintaining,
would like to do
a very good job if possible.
Through its historical past,
the mysteries of the world’s
ancient civilizations
are revealed and
in Pakistan’s bright future,
may hope for a world
preserved of its natural
beauty and resources
be fulfilled.
We are grateful
to Your Excellency
Mr. Syed Ibne Abbas,
Consul General
of Pakistan for sharing
his knowledge and love
of his glorious homeland.
May you and dignified
Pakistan be graced
with Allah’s blessings
to flourish
in evermore splendor.
Thank you for joining us
for Enlightening
Entertainment.
Coming up next is
Words of Wisdom,
after Noteworthy News,
here on
Supreme Master Television.
Heaven bless
and farewell for now.
Blessed be the sacred land
Happy be the bounteous realm
Symbol of high resolve Land of Pakistan!
Blessed be thou, citadel of faith
HOST: Welcome to Enlightening Entertainment on Supreme Master Television. You have just heard an excerpt of Pakistan’s National Anthem titled,『Qaumī Tarāna.』 The song conveys the pride and love Pakistanis have for their homeland.
Today on our show,we are honored to explore this beautiful country, her people and ancient heritage with His Excellency Mr. Syed Ibne Abbas,Consul General of Pakistan, in the Los Angeles, California, USA.
Consul General Abbas holds master degrees in both political science and international relations. He served as Director General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad, Pakistan from 2004 to 2006. He has held diplomatic positions for Pakistan since 1983 and has worked in Berne, Geneva, Canberra, and New Delhi. His Excellency was a Pakistan delegate for the 1997 and 2006. UN General Assembly sessions and Conference on Disarmament.
In Urdu, Pakistan means “pure land” symbolizing spiritual purity. With the Arabian Sea to the south, Pakistan is located in South Asia, neighboring Iran and Afghanistan to the west,India and China to the east.