The French Consul General and Madame Christian Ramage hosted their second grand National Day reception on 14th July in Karachi to celebrate the Bastille Day. The function, held in the premises of Alliance Francaise, doubled as a commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the publication of the book ‘Les Miserables’ by the great French writer Victor Hugo.
Speaking on the occasion, the Consul General stated that France had a strong and cordial bilateral relationship with Pakistan and trade between the two countries had become stronger with the profits of French companies in Pakistan, viz. Total, Sanofi, Aventis, Schneider, Mazars and L’Oreals having grown healthier. “Encouraged by them, some new companies have arrived since 2011 to invest and enter into partnerships with Pakistani companies.
These are Gaz de (power sector), Advans Pakistan and Horus (Micro-financing banks) and Hyperstar (a partner company of Carrefour catering to the house hold needs of families),” he added.
He announced that he was dedicating the evening’s celebration to an SOS Village in Baluchistan as a tribute to a character of the classic ‘Les Miserables,’ an orphan child.
Guest of Honour of the evening, Acting Governor Sindh Mr Nisar H Khuro (Speaker Sindh Assembly), offered felicitations and said he was delighted to have the opportunity for the second time to attend the French National Day celebrations as the Acting Governor.
The Karachi Ensemble Choir entertained the guests all through the evening with their beautiful numbers and later, after the guests had enjoyed a sumptuous dinner of French cuisine and French cheese, rocked the party with their scintillating performance.