Culture
Winning Laurels for Pakistan
The Floral Art Society Pakistan, Gardenia Chapter brought laurels to Pakistan by winning the majority prizes, internationally, in Oman recently. A WAFA event known as Bloom Oman, was held in Oman from 27th January to 1st February 2024. Delegates comprising of international floral designers from fifteen countries namely Australia, Belgium, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, U.K, USA, Oman and Pakistan attended the show. The Floral Art Society came into being in 1970. The objective of the Society is to promote floral art in the country. Its members attend and compete in international shows as well as virtual shows and have won many prizes. Pakistan has had the honour of being voted the host country for the years 2005 – 2008.
Members have represented us in Belgium, France, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom, Japan, Pakistan, United States, Ireland and Barbados, Oman WAFA shows.
Two delegates from Gardenia Chapter represented Floral Art Society of Pakistan at Bloom Oman. Shahimah Sayeed, Past National Chairperson and President, and Amtul Rauf Khan, Past National Chairperson and General Secretary was the observer from Pakistan. Amtul Rauf Khan was one of the judges among nine international judges for the competition held at the event and gave a Country Demonstration titled “The Coral Reefs of Pakistan”.
Twelve members from Gardenia Chapter sent their exhibits and eleven members won prizes making Pakistan the first amongst all the participants.
Shahimah Sayeed also conducted a one of a kind, imposed workshop for the delegates at the event where photographs of various places in Oman were the background and the designers had to create designs to compliment them. Various aspects of Oman were beautifully highlighted and thoroughly appreciated by the international floral designers.
To celebrate their outstanding achievement the Gardenia Chapter, Floral Art Society of Pakistan held an event later in Karachi at a local hotel to pay tribute to the prize winners of Bloom Oman. First lady, Begum Samina Arif Alvi was the chief guest.
Trophies and certificates, sent from Oman, were awarded to the winners by the First Lady.