Hussain Haqqani receives 'Pakistan Independence Day Award’

WASHINGTON: Pakistan's ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani has been given the ‘Pakistan Independence Day Award’ in recognition of his services for the country and the Pakistani-American community.

A committee of Pakistani-Americans picked the Pakistani envoy for the award this year, which is given to individuals who perform outstandingly in their field of endeavor.

Deputy chief of mission Iffat Gardezi received the award on behalf of the ambassador, who was unable to attend the festival due to preoccupation with flood relief coordination engagements.

In her remarks, Iffat Gardezi conveyed to the Pakistani-Americans the ambassador's appeal for generous donations to flood relief effort and informed the people about efforts the embassy is making to facilitate contributions to the Prime Minister's Flood Relief Fund 2010.

Meanwhile, thousands of Pakistani-Americans visited the Independence Day Festival at Expo Center organized by Dunya International media group.

According to a report in The News, Husain Haqqani had earlier cancelled a banquet that he was scheduled to host for Pakistan Air Force (PAF) chief Rao Qamar Suleman at the embassy, and decided to donate the money that would have been spent on the banquet to the fund for flood victims.