MALAYSIANS LAUD PAKISTANI CITY LAHORE'S CULTURE OF HOSPITALITY

By Shakir Husain

NEW DELHI, Feb 9 (Bernama) -- Malaysians participating in a Commonwealth parliamentary conference in Pakistan's Lahore were awed by the historic city's hospitality culture.

Lahore, located about 25 kilometres from the border with India, is the second-largest Pakistani city and is considered the country's cultural capital as well as a food haven.

"The hospitality that Punjab has shown us is world-class. All the places are so beautiful and the people are so warm," said Nur Azhar Bujang, secretary of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, one of the Malaysians visiting Punjab's capital city.

The provincial assembly of Punjab hosted the First Joint Asia and Southeast Asia Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), a five-day event that began on Thursday.

"It is true what they say... So, I can say that I am two days old now," Nur Azhar joked, referring to an old Punjabi saying that translates as "One who hasn't seen Lahore hasn't been born yet."

In videos posted by the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan on Friday, other Malaysian participants expressed similar sentiments about Lahore.

"We found Pakistan's food fantastic... The hospitality is very good," Sarawak legislator Mohamad Duri said.

Perak State Assembly Speaker Datuk Mohamad Zahir Abdul Khalid said he has visited other cities in Pakistan but Lahore has its "uniqueness" due to its rich history.

Lahore has many famous Mughal-period buildings, including the iconic Badshahi Mosque commissioned by Emperor Aurangzeb.

-- BERNAMA