ISLAMABAD: Australia’s High Commissioner Margaret Adamson on Monday launched an exhibition marking the 70th anniversary of the opening of Australia’s resident diplomatic mission in Pakistan. “Australia was quick to establish a High Commission in Karachi in 1948 after recognising the new country of Pakistan the previous year,” High Commissioner Margaret Adamson said. “The photos in the exhibition tell the story of how the relationship has developed since then. The images were drawn from a wide range of Australia-Pakistan engagement spanning development cooperation and humanitarian assistance, defence, education, sport, trade and cultural ties, as well as our people-to-people linkages. I am pleased the exhibition will be accompanied by performances from Australian Pakistani singer Umer Iftikhar,” High Commissioner Adamson said. “As an Australian graduate, Umer is a great example of how education can build bridges between nations and across cultures.” Australia was a popular education destination for Pakistani students, with more than 12,000 studying there this year. Australia’s thousands of alumni in Pakistan contributing to their nation’s development and their active connections to Australia, were an asset to both countries. “As a friend and a partner of 70 years standing, Australia will continue to support Pakistan in the future through our development partnership, our security cooperation combating terrorism, violent extremism and transnational organised crime and through growing trade and investment,” High Commissioner Adamson said. Last September, the Gold Coast 2018 Queen’s Baton Relay visited Lahore – the first stop in South Asia on its 388 kilometre journey from London to Australia’s Gold Coast. “Being two sports-loving nations, I know Australian and Pakistani athletes and sports fans alike will enjoy the competition and spectacle of the Commonwealth Games in April,” High Commissioner Adamson maintained. Published in Daily Times, March 20th 2018.