ABU DHABI // Pupils from Pakistani schools in the emirate showcased a colourful programme today to celebrate relations between Pakistan and the UAE.
Pakistan comprises diverse cultures and ethnic groups, and the flavours of all were demonstrated at Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Arab Pakistani School in the capital.
Attired in typical, colourful Pakistan dress representing the five major provinces of Pakistan, pupils kept the audience enthralled.
They showcased song and dance performances from Sindh, Punjab, Baluchistan, Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. At the end, there was an Emirati wedding demonstration and the recitation of a poem from the prominent scholar Allama Iqbal.
The children chanted slogans, clapped and shouted in support of the performers.
Shifa Saleem, a Grade 6 pupil from a Pakistani school in Musaffah attired in a traditional Emirati dress, performed an Arabic dance.
"This is the first time I have participated in an event outside the school and I enjoyed it very much," she said.
Amna Azam Malik, a Grade 8 pupil from a Musaffah school, said: "I enjoyed the Arabic and Pakistani cultural fusion portrayed nicely in the wedding drama. That was the best."
School officials said there are three Pakistani school in the emirate, with about 4,000 pupils in attendance.
Tabinda Al Ghizala, principal of the Sheikh Khalifa Pakistani School, said: "It took students almost a month to get ready for the show. The school sent a team to Pakistan to bring special traditional dresses and souvenirs."
On behalf of the all students, Sania Jeelani, a Grade 12 student, paid tribute to Malala Yousufzai, the young girl shot in the head by the Taliban.
Jamil Ahmed Khan, the Pakistani ambassador, encouraged students to engage in more extra-curricular activities which brighten their future and shape their personality. The ambassador termed the performances "magnificent".
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Roll of honour
Who has won what so far in the West Asia Premiership season?
Western Clubs Champions League - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens - Winners: Dubai Exiles; Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons
West Asia Premiership - Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons; Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership Cup - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Dubai Exiles
West Asia Cup - Winners: Bahrain; Runners up: Dubai Exiles
West Asia Trophy - Winners: Dubai Hurricanes; Runners up: DSC Eagles
Final West Asia Premiership standings - 1. Jebel Ali Dragons; 2. Abu Dhabi Harlequins; 3. Bahrain; 4. Dubai Exiles; 5. Dubai Hurricanes; 6. DSC Eagles; 7. Abu Dhabi Saracens
Fixture (UAE Premiership final) - Friday, April 13, Al Ain – Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
1st Test July 26-30 in Galle
2nd Test August 3-7 in Colombo
3rd Test August 12-16 in Pallekele
The Ashes
Results
First Test, Brisbane: Australia won by 10 wickets
Second Test, Adelaide: Australia won by 120 runs
Third Test, Perth: Australia won by an innings and 41 runs
Fourth Test: Melbourne: Drawn
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Who are the Sacklers?
The Sackler family is a transatlantic dynasty that owns Purdue Pharma, which manufactures and markets OxyContin, one of the drugs at the centre of America's opioids crisis. The family is well known for their generous philanthropy towards the world's top cultural institutions, including Guggenheim Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, Tate in Britain, Yale University and the Serpentine Gallery, to name a few. Two branches of the family control Purdue Pharma.
Isaac Sackler and Sophie Greenberg were Jewish immigrants who arrived in New York before the First World War. They had three sons. The first, Arthur, died before OxyContin was invented. The second, Mortimer, who died aged 93 in 2010, was a former chief executive of Purdue Pharma. The third, Raymond, died aged 97 in 2017 and was also a former chief executive of Purdue Pharma.
It was Arthur, a psychiatrist and pharmaceutical marketeer, who started the family business dynasty. He and his brothers bought a small company called Purdue Frederick; among their first products were laxatives and prescription earwax remover.
Arthur's branch of the family has not been involved in Purdue for many years and his daughter, Elizabeth, has spoken out against it, saying the company's role in America's drugs crisis is "morally abhorrent".
The lawsuits that were brought by the attorneys general of New York and Massachussetts named eight Sacklers. This includes Kathe, Mortimer, Richard, Jonathan and Ilene Sackler Lefcourt, who are all the children of either Mortimer or Raymond. Then there's Theresa Sackler, who is Mortimer senior's widow; Beverly, Raymond's widow; and David Sackler, Raymond's grandson.
Members of the Sackler family are rarely seen in public.
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