Indonesian embassy in Islamabad in partnership with Waheed Industries raised Rs 1.23 million for the flood relief efforts currently undergoing in the flood-affected areas of the country. Indonesian ambassador Adam Tugio, Director of Waheed group, Fahad Waheed, Regional Coordinator of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Mrs Efi Indriyani and Chairman of Indonesian students in Pakistan, Ibnu Fikri Ghozali donated a sum of PKR 1.2 million (USD 5353), while guests who attended the culinary demonstration contributed PKR 300,000 (USD 1300) for the flood affectees. It was a collaboration between the Indonesian embassy and the Waheed group on the event of the Indonesian Cooking Culinary Demonstration where master chefs displayed their culinary recipes. The collaborators used the occasion to raise money to help the state of Pakistan by donating money for the effort.

The event was also attended by the Chairman of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society, diplomatic personnel, representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Director of the Waheed group, restaurant owners, the business community, the Indonesian Student Association in Pakistan, and the Indonesian Diaspora. The event was a feature ceremony for the famous Chef Budiono who is the executive chef in Marriott, Nusa Dua Bali. He has professional cooking experience of 28 years.

He participated in the program as the guest judge. Chef Budiono presented Betawi (beef soup), Maranggi chicken satay (chicken tikka), fried noodles, and bakwan (pakora). These Indonesian cuisines were prepared with the spices available in Pakistan. Ambassador Tugio said, “many spices such as nutmeg, cloves and pepper used in famous Pakistani Garam Masala, a combination of 11 spices, also come from Heartland of Spices, Indonesia”. The Embassy has organized this event in line with the Indonesian government’s program called “Indonesia Spice Up the World (ISUTW)” to promote local spices and cuisines, especially on the international stage to boost spice trade activities, he added. 

At the event, Pakistan Nahdlatul Ulama (PCINU) Special Branch Management also came with aid for the flood victims in the form of tents, mosquito nets, and food packages. They also donated two HemoCue machines for blood donation. The Chairman of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society expressed his deep satisfaction at the work of the Indonesian Embassy in Islamabad in arranging a fundraising event for the people of Pakistan who have been affected very badly. The Director of Waheed Group thanked the Indonesian Embassy for allowing for collaboration in hosting two Indonesian culinary demos in Islamabad.  COTHM Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ahmad Shafiq was also all praise for the initiative of the Indonesian Embassy to introduce Indonesian cuisine to the Pakistani people.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk