Shehzad Roy, Malala visit Pakistan pavilion at Dubai Expo

Renowned singer says he felt proud, emotional at the same time during the visit

The youngest Nobel Peace Laureate and co-founder of Malala Fund, Malala Yousafzai and singer and social activist Shehzad Roy visited the Pakistan Pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai.

Shehzad termed his visit an amazing experience. "Stoked sense of patriotism made me feel proud & emotional at the same time. Pakistan celebrates diversity! Heartfelt!," he wrote on his official Twitter handle.

My visit to the Pakistani pavilion at the @expo2020dubai accompanied by @Malala @MalikAsser @ZiauddinY & Turpakaee was such an amazing experience. Stoked sense of patriotism made me feel proud & emotional at the same time. Pakistan celebrates diversity! Heart felt ! @Expo2020Pak pic.twitter.com/Ka3sFP1M7n

— Shehzad Roy (@ShehzadRoy) January 29, 2022

On Saturday, Malala had also applauded the initiative. "I hope everyone who visits will be inspired to learn more about our beautiful country," she wrote on Twitter.

My family and I attended @Expo2020Pak and saw exhibits celebrating Pakistan's culture, faith, landscapes and people. I hope everyone who visits will be inspired to learn more about our beautiful country.

📸: @mahwashr pic.twitter.com/otmIMTHqM8

— Malala (@Malala) January 28, 2022

As of January 24, Expo 2020 Dubai recorded 10,836,389 visits, while the virtual visitation reached 72.5 million.

The visitors were attracted by the series of high-profile events as part of the first Global Goals Week to be held outside of the United Nations in New York, Emirates news agency reported.

Across the Expo 2020 Dubai site, which is four times the size of Dubai Mall and spans the area of 613 football pitches, visitors have safely enjoyed the nearly 200 events being staged every day, thanks to stringent precautionary measures against Covid-19.

Read more: Pakistan pavilion sways people at Dubai Expo

Global Goals Week, which ran from 15th to 22nd January at Expo 2020 Dubai associated with the United Nations, proved similarly popular. The site came alive with post-it pledges and inspiring ‘to-do list’ activations, adding to the range of compelling forums and panel discussions.

The Theme Week advanced the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a blueprint to achieving a better, more sustainable future for all, tackling global challenges such as poverty, inequality, health and education, and climate change.

Expo 2020 Dubai continues to be committed to promoting the SDGs, providing a platform to create a positive impact for our collective future.

Expo 2020 Dubai’s mass virtual visitation is driven by the range of entertainment and extensive live coverage of the Global Goals Week sessions, which garnered 767,000 visitors across the planet.

Visitors over 60 can now enjoy many enhanced services as part of the Senior Guests Programme. Open to any guest eligible for a free Expo Senior Citizen Pass, visitors can access dedicated priority parking spaces, use private buggies for up to five people for 90 minutes, gain fast-track entry to selected pavilions, and obtain a 30 percent discount on lunch at select restaurants across the site.

And for families, Expo 2020 Dubai’s Festival Garden is the perfect cool-weather hang-out, with a host of kids’ activities, music and entertainment. The venue is also hosting the Middle East’s first vegan food festival, running until the end of January.

Also read: President Alvi arrives in UAE to inaugurate Pakistan pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020

Health and safety remain a priority, with stringent rules across the site. On-site measures include mask-wearing – indoors and outdoors – for visitors, staff and participants, and PCR testing facilities for Country Pavilion staff, frontline workers, and entertainers.

All Expo visitors ages 18 and above must show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test result taken within the previous 72 hours.

Expo 2020 Dubai runs until March 31, inviting the world to join a global celebration that will help to shape a brighter, better future for everyone.

11 Pakistani movies are also being screened at the expo. The list includes hits such as Superstar, Teefa in Trouble, Saawan, Actor in Law, Parey Hut Love, Heer Maan Ja, Parchi, Chhalawa, Load Wedding and Heer Maan Ja.

(With additional input from APP)