Envoys' spouses from 50 countries launch 'Culinary Diplomacy' in Islamabad

Ghada Ahmed, wife of the Egyptian ambassador, presents “Culinary Diplomacy: Sharing Recipes, Building Bridges” to First Lady Samina Alvi in Islamabad on Feb. 11, 2020. (AN photo)

Jordanian Ambassador Ibrahim Yala Al-Madani and Mrs. Al-Madani receive from First Lady Samina Alvi the cookbook for which they donated Rs100,000 to charity in Islamabad on Feb. 11, 2020. (AN photo)

“Culinary Diplomacy: Sharing Recipes, Building Bridges” contains 144 recipes from 50 different countries. (AN photo)

The heads of diplomatic missions’ spouses’ group launches “Culinary Diplomacy: Sharing Recipes, Building Bridges” at Serena Hotel in Islamabad on Feb. 11, 2020. (AN photo)

• Sale proceeds of the cookbook will go to poverty alleviation Ehsaas program, says Pakistan’s first lady
• Jordanian ambassador was the highest bidder during the book’s auction

ISLAMABAD: The wives of 50 foreign envoys in Islamabad launched a joint cookbook on Tuesday, in which they share recipes for both good food and well-cooked international relations.
Titled “Culinary Diplomacy: Sharing Recipes, Building Bridges,” the book “is hard work of almost two years, in which 144 recipes were put together from 50 different countries of six continents,” said Ghada Ahmed, wife of the Egyptian ambassador and president of the spouses’ group.
The group, formed in March 2018, has as its members the spouses of foreign ambassadors and high commissioners to Pakistan.
Ahmed told Arab News the aim of the book was to introduce Pakistanis to different nations and cultures.
“I wanted to promote Arabic and Egyptian culture by introducing our cuisines and the stories lie behind the dishes we prepare. It is also a noble cause as all the revenue from the book will go to one or more Pakistani government recognized charity,” Ahmed said, adding that anyone who is interested in food, history and culture will enjoy going through the book.
“This is an excellent initiative to introduce culture through cuisines,” said Samina Alvi, the first lady of Pakistan, adding that revenue from the book’s sales will go to the government’s poverty alleviation Ehsaas program.
The first lady said she would ask Ehsaas to finance from the book’s sales vocational training for women with disabilities.
Five books signed by the first lady were auctioned during the event.
Jordanian Ambassador Ibrahim Yala Al-Madani, who bought one of them by offering Rs100,000, told Arab News the most important aspect of this joint project was that it would help those in need.
“This book reflects the harmony between the spouses of members of the diplomatic community and their effort to promote respective cultures in Pakistani. It will help in bridging the gap between nations and people. The diplomatic missions have this duty to promote people-to-people relations,” the ambassador said.
Aziz Boolani, chief executive of Serena Hotel, where the book launch was held, told Arab News the book “will not only introduce cuisines of different countries to Pakistani homes but also promote diverse cultures” and achieve harmony between them.