Pakistan Pavilion a ‘huge success’

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood on Thursday termed Pakistan Pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020 a huge success.

“The response we received was overwhelming, and Pakistan Pavilion already crossed 1 million visitors mark which exceeded our expectations,” the adviser said in a statement.

“An international jury was called to select the best pavilion at the Expo 2020 and Pakistan got silver award for interior design out of 192 pavilions,” he added.

“We would like to thank our creative team especially Ms. Noor Jahan for (Interior) and Rashid Rana for (exterior) for their creativity in showing  actual Pakistan to a broader audience. Last but not least our team in the Ministry of Commerce, TDAP, our embassy in the UAE and the ambassador without their dedication it won't be possible to put on such a great show.”

Dubai bid farewell to its extravagant Expo 2020 world fair on Thursday, leaving a multi-billion dollar mini-city in the desert and heightened expectations for future hosts. Six months after the delayed opening of the $7 billion, purpose-built site, the Middle East business hub closed the shutters with performances from Christina Aguilera and DJ Tiesto, and fireworks.

Millions of people have flocked to Expo's 192 country pavilions in its final days, pushing visit numbers over 23 million -- not far off the 25 million targeted, despite the ongoing pandemic -- and making it tough to find a taxi elsewhere in the city.

In 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) heat, long queues have formed at the most popular attractions, including the falcon-themed United Arab Emirates pavilion and the Saudi Arabia building, a slanted slab that appears to hover in the air.

"It's been a huge experience, it's been really, really great," said Abbas Masud, 66, a retired banker originally from Pakistan.

"I've done about 172 countries. I wanted to do all 192 but I don't think I will be able to because it's the last day. I feel a bit sad."

Expo, housed on a circular site twice the size of Monaco, has been a point of pride for Dubai's monarchical rulers and one of a number of projects aimed at grabbing world attention.

With additional input from AFP