Lahore 2016 - Preliminaries

The Lahore Chapter, once again put to its feet with the arrival of Zahir Khan after almost three years is in full gear to prepare for the 2016 course get together in Lahore.

So far the annual get together events have been organized by the course secretary Muhammad Asif with the active assistance of some of the course mates at Abbottabad, Mangla, Nathiagali and Rawalpindi. However, during 2015 get together at Nathiagali, Zahir Khan proposed holding the 2016 get together at Lahore. His idea was warmly 'seconded' by Javed Baloch and both vowed to make all arrangements at Lahore within existing resources. Unfortunately Javed Baloch did not live long to be part of the hosts, but the show would go on as planned by the Lahore chapter. Javed would watch us from heavens above and will be happy to see us getting together as planned.

Zahir Khan has already made his team, him assisted by Athar and Abbas, who have already shaken up the rather inactive Lahore chapter by holding a get together with families in May earlier this year. The event was well attended at DeSOM.

These days Zahir and Co are undergoing preliminaries for the 2016 get together and visiting various places as possible venues for the get together. Recently Zahir, Athar and Abbas visited the famous Shalamar Bagh of Lahore - once an active venue for the reception given to the visiting heads of the states of friendly countries by the people of Lahore.

Here are some glimpses of the good old days:

President Nasser of Egypt at a reception in Shalamar Bagh, Lahore 1960

Queen Elizabeth II given a warm reception at Shalamar Bagh - Lahore 1961

Bhutto with Qaddafi, Mujib and Yasir Arafat during 1974 Islamic Summit Conference

Perhaps taking a cue form the past and traditions of Lahorites, Zahir may have come up with the idea of choosing Shalamar Bagh Lahore as one of the possible venus. And visited to gauge its suitability, feasibility and availability.