Jeddah Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India recently honored toppers of the commerce faculty of IISJ. The chapter’s president, Saquib Agboatwala, stated that to encourage students of commerce stream to take up Chartered Accountancy, the chapter has continued its practice of felicitating outstanding students for the year 2004-05 by presenting four awards to the 11th grade school students of the International India School, Jeddah.

In the girls section Shabreen Arif won the Best Performance in the Commerce Faculty award (75%) and Hanaan Omer Ali Bahamam was awarded for securing highest marks in accountancy (80%). In the boys section Waleed Mohammed Wafi Ahmad took the Best Performance in the Commerce faculty (77.40%) as well as securing the highest marks in accountancy subject (68%).

The outstanding students were awarded a plaque along with a wristwatch and a Cross pen which was presented by his Dr. Ausaf Saeed — Consul General of India. The event was sponsored by Universal Motor Agencies, Al Juraid, Al Hamrani Company for Investment & Trade, Al Quraishi Marketing, AXA Insurance, Universal Car Rental Co - Budget, Bugshan Printing Press, Binzagr Coro, California Computers, City Plaza, Hotel Jeddah Trident, Haji Abdullah Alireza (Gentec), Juffali Heidelberg, Juffali Michelin, Jeddah National Hospital, Kanoo, Port Services Containers, Royal & sun Alliance Insurance, Shams Trading , Shar Clinic, Tata Al Hamrani and UNASCO.

PWC Hosts Farewell Meeting for PIA Official

Pakistan Writers Club, Riyadh, hosted a farewell meeting for Mohammad Hasan, the outgoing PIA Central Region station manager last week. The meeting held at the Coco Palm restaurant was also meant to welcome the incoming Station Manager Parvaaz Rafi. Pakistan Writers Club (PWC), founded in Riyadh in 1989, is an association of Pakistani writers and journalists.

he gathering was attended among others by Waqar Ahmed, community welfare attaché in the Embassy of Pakistan, Ahmed Yusuf, a prominent businessman, Choudhry Nazir Ahmed, a Pakistani parliamentarian and member of the Standing Committee for Overseas Pakistanis.

Speakers included Rauf Moghul, multimedia secretary of Pakistan Writers Club; Syed Bashir Ahmed, finance secretary; Naim Awan, information secretary; and Salim School Lala, a senior member of PWC. Ahmed Yusuf and Nazir Ahmed praised PWC for its positive role in bringing the community together. PWC President Tariq Nadim Sheikh the the two PIA officials also spoke.

Nizam, Aslam Felicitated

Zahra thus Sahra (Flower in Desert) Mir Nizam Ali Khan is no stranger to the Urdu-speaking expatriates in the Kingdom. A well known ghazal singer from Hyderabad, and at present living in Jeddah, enthralled the expatriate community with his ghazals at the New Jeddah Cricket League Complex, north of Obhur at an open air program.

The moonlight setting on the sea shore provided a perfect ambience for the large subcontinent community, who had gathered for the cultural fest after a festival cricket match. Nizam sang songs of the legendary late Mohd. Rafi and ghazals to keep the crowd in raptures. The grand ghazal program was jointly organized by the India Forum and the Jeddah Cricket League and was presided by JCL President Shahid Amin and Indian Consul General Dr. Ausaf Saeed, the chief guest. The guest of honor was Dr. Suhail Aijaz Khan the consul Haj and the director of India Forum, Sheikh Siraj Al Amri, business development officer of Gentec Telecommunications, was also present. JCL honored Nizam and Sharief Aslam of Zinda Dilan E Jeddah with traditional shawls. Nizam rendition of “Chitti Ayi Hai Watan se Chitti Ayi,” and, “Kall Choudhuwin ki Raat Thhi” and Ahmed Faraz’s “Ghazal Sunkar Pareshan Hogaye Kya” was well received. Majeed Ul Hassan anchored the program and the sound system was provided by Franky’s Reel & Rom company.